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PONCE 

DeLEON 

LAND 




SECOND EDITION 

ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. 

By Q. M. BROWN, Ord. Sergt." U. S. A. 

Jackson\ille, Florida: 
. The DaCosta Printing Company, 
1895. 




PONCE 

DeLEON ^^^^^ 
LAND 




SECOND EDITION 



ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. 



By G. M. BROWN, Ord. Sergt. U. S. A. 



Jacksonville, Flori6j» ■ 

The DaCosta Printing Cotnppr:', 

1895. 




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Geo. M. Brown, Ordnance Sergeant U. S. A. 



PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



THE author has endeavored in this work to answer the 
many thousands of questions that have been asked 
him in the past six years pertaining to the history of 
Florida. The only excuse for attempting such a task is, 
that it was, in a measure, forced upon him. 

I was ordered from Fort Jefferson, Florida, to take 
charge of Fort Marion, arriving here on the 4th of August, 
1885. At that time I knew but little of the early history 
of Florida. I have endeavored to give the public the re- 
sult of six years' careful study, gathered from all parts of 
the world. I have been asked by thousands of people to 
embody the result of my study in book form, and I have 
endeavored to do so, knowing that, after more than thirty 
years of active service, I am better qualified to handle the 
rifle or sabre than the pen. 

V^ery respectfully, 

Geo. M. Brown, 
Ordnance Sergeant U. S. A. 



PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. 



HAVING met witli success in my first edition of 
PONCE DE LEON LAND, I am encouraged to 
publish a second edition, a revised and larger 
work, embracing, among other subjects, tlie history of 
Fort Marion, with a descriptive plan of same ; the Spanish 
Inquisition and its effect on the settlement of Florida, with 
a full description of siege operations from the investment 
to the assault. 

^ //^^, /y^ /v ^ V ^ 

Ordnance Sergeant U. S. A. 
P. 0. Box 271, St. Augustine, Fla. 



I wish to give sincere thanks to the Hon. George R* 
Fairbanks, JNI. A.; Mr. William Whitwell Dewhurst, .John 
G. Shea and Miss A. M. Brooks for their kind permission 
to copy from their works. Mr. Fairbanks is the pioneer 
historian of St. Augustine ; from Mr. Dewhurst I have 
taken most of the history of Narvaez and De Soto and 
several other valuable points ; from Mr. Shea the letter 
from Pope Pius the Fifth to Menendez, and points per- 
taining to Christianizing the Indians; from Miss Brooks 
the History of the Seminole War, a copy of Menendez' 
signature and several other points of history. Miss 
Brooks has been in Spain, getting points for the Colonial 
History of Florida, for some time. 

"The History and Antiquities of St. Augustine," by 
Geo. R. Fairbanks, M. A.; " The History of St. Augustine, 
Florida," by Wm. W. Dewhurst; " The CathoHc Church 



VI PREFACE TO SECOND EDITIOX. 

in Colonial Days," by JohnG. Shea; "Petals Plucked 
from Sunny Climes," by Miss A. M. Brooks, are sterling 
works, and should be read by every one that takes an in- 
terest in the history of our country. The description of 
siege operations to Capt. James Chester, Third Artillery 
U. S. A., will be of interest to ever}'^ one in the United 
States. 



INDEX. 



SECOND EDITION OF PONCE DE LEON LAND. 



CHAPTER I. 

Biith and Earlj- Life of Ponce de L(>on. 

CHAPTER II. 
The Conquest of Porto Itico, 

CHAPTER III. 

Ponce de Leon Assumes Command of the Island. The Test Made by the In- 
dians to Find Whether the Spaniards were Mortals. 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Indians Attack the Spaniards. Death of Satomayor. 

CHAPTER V. 

Ponce de Leon Resigns Command of Porto Rico, and Returns to Spain to 
■ Look After His Ward Left Him by Satomayor. He Hears of the Foun- 
tain of Youth. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Ponce de Leon's Introduction to His AVard, Dona Inez de Satomayor. He Ac- 
cepts the Guardianship. 

CHAPTER VII. 

Ponce de Leon's Search for the Fountain of Youth. His Discovery of Florida, 
Landing on the 3d of April, 1512. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Ponce de Leon's Expedition Against the Carribees. 

CHAPTER IX 
Ponce de Leon's Last Voyage. Attempted Settlement of Florida. His death 
and Burial in Cuba- 

CHAPTER X. 
The Second Attempt to Settle Florida by Panfilo Narvaez. Its Failure and 
Loss of All the Party but Four. 

CHAPTER XI. 

The Third Attempt to Settle Florida by Hernando de Soto Results in the 
Loss of His Life by Disease, and All but Three Hundred of His Commaud. 

CHAPTER XII. 

Huguenot Settlement Under Ilibault and Laudonniere. 



Ylll INDEX. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Founding of St Aug-ustine by Menendez in 1565. Attack on the French Set- 
tlement on the St. Johns. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Massacre of the French Colonists by Menendez. 

CHAPTER XV. 
Pope Pius V.'s Letter of Commendation to ^fenendez. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Refusal of Charles IX. to Take Notice of the Slaughter of His Subjects 
Petition of Nine Hundred Widows and Orphans Unheeded Menendez 
Strengthens His Position. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Lajiug Out the Town with Its Defences. Erection of a Church and a Hall of 
Justice. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Expedition and Ketaliation of DeGourgues. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Attack of Sir Francis Drake on St. Augustine, 8th May, 1.586, Capturing £2,0(i(;v 
Sterling. 

CHAPTER XX. 

Establishment of Mission ; Massacre of the Missionaries by the Indians. 

CHAPTER XXI. 

Capture of the Apalacian Indians; Their Work on the Defences of St. 
Augustine; Progress of the Ojlony. 

CHAPTER XXII. 

Captixin Davis's Attack on the City ; The Commencement of the Sea Wall 

CHAPTER XXIII. 
Governor Moore's Attack on St. Augustine, 1703. 

CHAPTER XXIV. 
Colonel Palmer's Invasion of Florida 

CHAPTER XXV. 
Ogelthorpe's Attack on St. Augustine and Siege of Fort Marion. 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

History of the Inriuisition, Ancient and Modern ; Its Effect on the Settlement 
of Florida. 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

Completion of the Castle. 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

The History of Fort Marion. 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

Descriptive Plan of Port Marion. 

CHAPTER XXX. 

lege Operations; Strength of the Besieging Army ; Field Artillery ; Cavalry,-. 
The Corps of Observation; Siege Artillery; The Investment; Tlie 
Camps ; The Line of Circumvallation ; The Line of Countervallation ; 



INDEX. IX 

The Survey; Gabions; Facnes ; Fagots; Sap Roolers; Planning Ap- 
proaches; The Artillery Park ; The Engineering Depot; The First Paral- 
lel; Tracing the Parallel; The Guard of the Trenches; The Working 
Parties; Mortar Batteries ; Koad-making ; The First Bombardment ; Eoad 
Regulations ; The Approaches ; Working Parties ; The Simple Trench ; 
Tracing the Approaches ; Guarding the Working Parties ; The Second 
Parallel; Batteries of the Second Parallel; Breaching the Demilonee ; 
The Third Parallel ; The Flying Sap ; The Full Sap ; Breaching the Main 
Work ; The Assault. 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

The Transfer of Florida to England, ITftS. 

CHAPTER XXXII. 
Recession of Florida to Spain ; The Erection of the Cathedral, 1763 to 18:J1. 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 
Transfer of Florida to the United States. 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

The Seminole War; The Treaty of Payn's Landing, 1832; Osceola's Capture 
and Transfer to Sullivan's Island ; His Death. 

CHAPTER XXXV. 

The Seminole War near St. Augustine 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 
Coacoachees and Hadjo's Escape and Recapture. 

CHAPTER XXXVII. 
Fort Marion Taken Possession of by Florida Troops, January 7, 1861. 
CHAPTER XXXVni. 

Continement of the Comanche, Kiowa, and Chirlcauaa, Apache Indians of 
War in the Fort. 

CHAPTER XXXIX. 

The Hotels in St. Augustine ; The Climate. 



PONCE DE LEON LAND. 

SECOND EDITION. 



CHAPTER I. 
Birth and Eakly Life of Ponce de Leon. 

PONCE DE LEON was bom in the Province of Leon, 
and was a wortli}^ member of the celebrated family 
whose history is connected with that province. 

He was appointed page to Pedro Nunez de Guzman, 
Lord of Taral. He received his military instruction at 
an age when most children are under the care of their 
nurse. He earl}^ evinced such an aptitude for a military 
career that De Guzman placed him under the instruction 
of some of the most brilliant officers of that period. In 
his many campaigns against the ]\Ioors he learned a pecu- 
liar art of war, which was of great benefit to him in after 
years, especially in his campaigns against the Indians in 
the Western hemisphere. 

In this school he learned one of the most essen- 
tial points in military tactics; that is to pick the men best 
qualified for the duties they are to perform ; few men are 
capable of making good scouts, which is one of the most 
important duties performed by troops in the field. The 
chief duty of a scout is to give as near a correct report 
as possible of the position and number of the enemy, 
the strength of their works, if they have any, and the 
number of guns available for attack, offensive of defensive. 
With correct information on these points, the commander 
can place his force in the best position to insure success. 
This information is of special importance when operating 
against numbers largely in excess of one's own. 

In the field De Leon was the bravest of the brave, re- 
garding the safety and welfare of his men more than he 



12 Ponce de Leon Land, 

did his own. With a vigorous constitution that fatigue or 
hardship could but httle affect, together with good judg- 
ment in selecting his men for the important duties he 
wished to have performed, made him an excellent 
leader. It was not surprising that he was successful 
in his many expeditions, and that he frequently received 
commendation from the King and Queen for his gallant 
conduct in the presence of the enemy, and for his sagacity 
in taking advantage of every point exposed by them. 

When Columbus fitted out his second expedition to 
the Western Hemisphere, Ponce de Leon was one of the 
first to volunteer his services. Columbus recognized at once 
the benefit it would be to him to have such a brave and 
gallant officer associated with him, and as a conse(|uence his 
services were accepted. After arriving in Cuba he was 
assigned next in command to Juan de Esquival. And in 
his brilliant campaign against the province of Higuey 
shortly after, which was the most sanguine that had been 
waged against the Indians in the Spanish colonies, he was 
promoted to the command of the above named Province 
under the Governor of Hispanola. The quiet life as Gov- 
ernor of this Province did not suit the adventurous spirit 
of PoncedeLeon and he soon planned a campaign against 
the Island of Boriquen whose green mountains shone 
against the bright sky about fourteen leagues distant. 
He learned from the Indians who visited his province fre- 
quently that the rivers and mountains of the Island con- 
tained large quantities of gold. Upon learning this he 
sought permission of Governor Ovando to explore the 
island, to find out if there was any truth in the report he 
had received. This request was willingly granted by 
Ovando. In 1508 he fitted out his expedition to Bori- 
quen consisting of a caravel and a few small boats with a 
detachment of Spaniards and a few Indians for guides and 
interpreters. A few hours sail brought his command to the 
island. He landed near the main Indian settlement 
commanded by their head Cliief Agueybana. The Indians 
received the strangers with great courtesy vieing with each 
other in paying respects to the Spaniards. Ponce de Leon 
exchanged names with the Chief Agueybana which was 
the Indian pledge of perpetual amity, and also gave Christ- 



Ponce de Leon Land. 13 

ian names to the chief's family who always took great 
})ride in the names thus given. The chief took the 
Spaniards through the most fei'tile part of the island 
showing them their best fields of yuca, their groves laden 
with choicest fruit, and their excellent streams of water. 
De Leon cared but little for anything the natives could 
show him, except gold, which was the main object of his 
search. The chief conducted him to two rivers, the Mana- 
tuabon and Zebuco where the very pebbles were richly 
vained with gold. The largest grains were gathered and 
given to the Spaniards for samples. There was no ques- 
tion but that large quantities of this precious metal 
abounded in these streams. De Leon left several of his 
men with the Indians and returned to Hayti to report to 
Governor Ovando the result of his expedition. 



CHAPTER IL 

Conquest of Pokto Rico. 

THE Indians of Porto Rico were more fierce in their dis- 
position than those of Hispanola. They had been 
schooled to war from childhood, especially in repell- 
ing the frequent attacks of the Caribs, who were Cannibals, 
and inhal)itcd the neighboring islands. The settlement 
of Boriquen would be more difhcult than the settlement 
of Hispanola. Ponce de Leon therefore made another 
and preparatoi'v visit to the island, to inform himself ot 
the topography of the country, its resources and the char- 
acter of its people. He found the troops he had left on 
the island in good health and spirits, they having been 
w^ell treated by Agueybana and his people; there seemed 
to be no need of bloodshed to gain the island from such 
hospitable people. 



14 Ponce de Leon Land. 

Ponce de Leon had strong hopes of being ap- 
pointed governor by Ovando and of bringing the whole 
island peaceably into subjection. He on that account 
remained some time on the island prospecting for gold 
and looking out for the best point for settlement. He 
then returned to San Domingo to get his appointment as 
governor, but during his absence the whole governing 
power had changed. 

Governor Ovando had been recalled to Spain. 
Diego Columbus had been appointed in his place to the 
command of San Domingo, Christoval de Satomayor 
had been ordered to build a fortress and establish a set- 
tlement on the island of Porto Rico. Satomayor was 
brother to the Count of Camina and secretary to Philip 
the 1st, the handsome king of Castile, the father of 
Charles the 5th. 

Don Diego Columbus was very much displeased 
with the appointment of Satomayor as governor, as it 
had been done without his knowledge or consent and 
contrary to the king's agreement with Don Diego as his 
viceroy, who was to be consulted in all appointments 
made in his jurisdiction. To settle the matter he con- 
firmed neither of them, but appointed -June Ceron as 
governor of Porto Rico and Miguel Diego as his lieutenant 
governor. 

Ponce de Leon and Satomayor took their dis- 
appointment as best they could. They hoped to better 
their fortunes in the island and joined the settlers that 
accompanied the new governor. New changes took place 
in consequence of the jealousies and misunderstandings 
between King Ferdinand and the admiral as to points of 
privilege. The king still seemed disposed to maintain 
the right of making appointments, without consulting 
Don Diego and exerted it in the present instance. When 
Ovando returned to Spain he made such a favorable re- 
port of the conduct of Ponce de Leon and the merits of 
liis services to the crown, that the king appointed him 
governor of the island and charged Don Diego Columbus 
not to displace him. 



Ponce de Leon Land. 15 

CHAPTER in. 

Ponce de Leon Assumes Command of the Island. 
The Test Made by the Indians to Find Out 
Whether the Spaniards Were Mortals. 

PONCE DE LEON on assumiDg command of Bri- 
quen had a quarrel with Ceron and Diaz and sent 
them prisoners to Spain. With Satomayor it was 
different. He took a Hking to him from their first meet- 
ing and appointed him lieutenant governor and Alcaldy 
mayor, which office he accepted. Satomayor had a large 
repartimiento of Indians assigned to him by a grant from 
the king, but he soon resigned his rank as it took to much 
time from his personal affairs. 

Ponce de Leon established his town on the 
north side of the island about one league from the sea 
where he supposed that the best gold deposits were 
to be found. It was opposite the port called Rico, 
which name was afterwards given to the island. 
The road to the town was horrible for man or beast ; it 
cost more to carry their supplies this league than it had 
to bring them from Spain. 

After having firmly established his government 
he portioned out the island into districts and towns and 
distributed the Indians into repartimientos to secure their 
labor. 

The Indians soon found the difference between 
Spaniards as guests and Spaniards as masters. They 
were driven to desperation by the heavy tasks imposed 
upon them ; restraint and labor were worse than death. 
The most hardy and daring proposed a general massacre 
of their enslavers, but many were deterred by the belief 
that the Spaniards were supernatural beings and could 
not be killed. 

A shrewd chief named Brayoan tested their immor- 
tality. Learning that a Spaniard named Salzedo would 
pass through his country he sent out a party to escort him, 
instructing them to drown him when they came to the 
river. The Indians took him on their shoulders to carry 
him across, and when in mid stream they threw him into 



16 Pox<E DE Leon Land. 

the water and fell on top of him, holding him under the 
water until he was dead. The chief examined the body 
and pronounced it lifeless, but the Lidians kept it for three 
days until putrification had commenced to take place. 
This convinced the Indians that the Spaniards were mor- 
tal men and that they could kill them the same as an 
Indian 



CHAPTER IV. 



The Indians Attack the Spaniards. — Death of 
Satomayor. 

THE chief who organized the attack on the Spaniards 
was Agueybana, brother to the head chief of the island, 
who had died a short time previous to the outbreak 
of the savages. The present chief had been alloted to 
Don Christoval de Satomayor in the repartimiento and 
was treated with kindness by him, but the wild Indian 
spirit would never accept slavery under any conditions. 

Agueybana called his followers together and orga- 
nized his men for a combined elfort against the Spaniards 
who were scattered over the island. He proposed that at 
a certain time each chief should kill all the whites in his 
province. In planning the attack, Agueybana assigned one 
of his sub-chiefs to the duty of attacking the settlement of 
Satomayor with a force of 3,000 warriors. The attack was 
to be made just before daylight with the instruction to 
fire their houses and to slaughter all the settlers. He re- 
served the right to kill Satomayor himself. 

Don Christoval had one very warm friend among the 
savages. Being a very handsome man he gained the love 
of an Indian princess, the sister of Agueybana, and the 
handsomest maid on the island. She had heard enough 
of the war council of the savages to learn that Satomayor 
was to bo killed at the first oiiportunity. The life of her 
lover being more to her than all the rest of the world, she 
hastened to him and disclosed the plot against his life 



Ponce de Leon Land. 17 

and all the rest of the Spaniards. Satomayor being a 
frank, open-hearted man, doubted that the savages would 
dare attack them. He considered the warning given 
by the princess was on account of her great love for 
him and did not take heed. 

Soon after he received warning from a Spaniard that 
understood the Indian language and their customs. He 
found that large numbers of them gathered together fre- 
quently, painted for battle. Suspecting that they in- 
tended to make an attack upon the whites, he stripped 
and painted himself, and thus disguised as an Indian he 
mingled freely among them. At night they assembled 
around a large fire performing their war dances to the 
chant of an Areyto or legendary ballad, which was to incite 
them to kill their oppressors. 

The Spaniard withdrew from the savages without 
detection and proceeded to notify Don Christoval of the 
contemplated attack and the special design on his own 
life. Again he did not heed the warning he had received, 
or give it the consideration that the danger of his situation 
demanded, but concluded he had better report the matter 
to Ponce de Leon, who was at his stronghold at Caparra. 
With his usual carelessness he asked Agueybana for men to 
carry his baggage to Caparra. He left his home only 
lightly armed, and accompanied by but three of his 
own people, knowing that he had to cross through some 
difficult mountain passes and dense forests which would 
afford secure hiding places for lurking Indians. 

Agueybana observed the departure of Satomayor with 
great pleasure, and determined to kill him before he 
could reach Ponce de Leon at Caparra. Selecting a 
number of his most trusted braves he followed the small 
detachment of Spaniards closely. A short distance from 
their starting point, they encountered a Spaniard who 
could speak the Indian language. They attacked him 
and woun<led him severely. He begged Agueybana to 
.spare his life, and the chief being anxious to secure Don 
Christoval did not delay to dispatch him, but hastened 
after the detachment of Spaniards which he soon overtook 
in a dense portion of the forest. Raising their terrible 

2b 



18 Ponce de Leon Land. • 

war whoop they rushed to the attack. Before Satomayor 
could defend himself he was felled to the earth with a 
blow from a war club and he was quickly dispatched by 
the Indians, who were assisted by the guides furnished to 
Satomayor. They killed the remaining Spaniards. 

Agueybana having satiated his wrath on Satomayor, 
with his party, started out in quest of Juan Gonzalez the 
Spaniard they had wounded, but in the interval he had 
recovered strength enough to enable him to conceal him- 
self in a tree. The Indians hunted through the surround- 
ing forest for some time and finding no trace of him they 
abandoned the search. Though suffering for food and 
water Gonzalez did not dare to attempt to escape from his 
concealment until night had set in. Under cover of dark- 
ness he made his way to the abode of one of the Span- 
iards, where he received kind care and attention. After 
his wounds had been dressed and a supply of food and 
water had been furnished him he set out at once to warn 
De Leon of the great danger that Satomayor and his fol- 
lowers were supposed to be in, not knowing that the 
treacherous foe had killed the whole party. De Leon 
dispatched men at once to their assistance who soon came 
to the place where their comrades had been slaughtered 
and partialy buried in the earth. 

During this time the savages burned the village of 
Satomayor to the ground. They made the attack in the 
darkness of night, and the first intimation the Spaniards 
had of danger was the blazing of the straw-thatched roofs 
and the load war whoops of the Indians as they sprang 
from their cover to the attack, slaughtering the Span- 
iards wherever they could find them, till at last a brave 
fellow named Salazar rallied his people together, and 
making a determined onslaught on their foes, succeeded 
in driving off tlie Indians and conducted a large part 
of his people to their defenses at Caparra. In a few 
short hours Ponce de Leon learned of the general out- 
break of all the Indians on the island and the massacre 
of nearly one hundred of his people and the destruction 
of all the places established by the Spaniards except their 
present fortress. 

He found himself in a very bad predicament, with 



Po^X'E DE Leon Land. 19 

small chance of extricating himself from it. His settle- 
ments were entirely destroyed and a large number of his 
men wounded and disabled, his whole remaining force 
not exceeding one hundred men. 

Agueybana had induced all the Indians on the island 
to join in the attack, and even sent runners to the Caribs 
for assistance to help exterminate the whites. Agueybana 
assembled nearly all the warriors for the attack on the 
fortress at Caparra; the forest literally swarmed with sav- 
ages, the din of their war conchs, the roar of their drums, 
together with sounds of their war cries, was enough to 
appall a much larger and better protected body of men. 

Ponce de Leon was a staunch and wary old soldier, 
and not easily daunted. He remained grimly ensconced 
within his fortress from whence he dispatched messengers 
in all haste to Hispaniola, imploring immediate assist- 
ance. In the meantime he tasked his wits to divert the 
enemy and to keep them at bay. He divided his little 
force into three bodies of about thirty men each, under 
the command of Diego Salazar, Miguel de Toro, and Luis 
de Anasco, and sent them out alternately to make sudden 
sorties and assaults, to form ambuscades and to practice 
the other stratagems of partisan warfare which he had 
learned in early life in his campaigns against the Moors 
of Grenada. One of his most efficient warriors was a dog 
named Berezillo, renowned for courage, strength and 
sagacity. It is said that he could distinguish those of the 
Indians who were allies, from those who were enemies of 
the Spaniards. To the former he was docile, and to the 
latter fierce and implacable. He was the terror of the 
natives who were unaccustomed to powerful and ferocious 
animals, and did more service in this wild warfare than 
could have been rendered by several soldiers. His prowess 
was so highly appreciated that his master received for 
him the pay and allowance, and share of booty assigned 
to a cross-bowman which was the highest stipend given 
any soldier of the line. 

In a short time Ponce de Leon was reinforced by 
troops from Hispaniola, whereupon he sallied forth 
boldly to take revenge upon those who had thus held him 
in durance. His foe Agueybana was at that time encamped 



20 Ponce de Leon Land. 

in liis own territory with more than five thousand war- 
riors, but in a neghgent, unwatchlul state, for lie knew 
nothing of the reinforcement of the Spaniards and sup- 
loosed Juan Ponce securely hemmed in with his handful 
of men in Caparra. The old soldier took him completely 
by surprise and routed him with great slaughter. Indeed 
it is said that the Indians were struck with a kind of 
panic when they saw the Spaniards as numerous as ever, 
notwithstanding the number they had massacred. Their 
belief in their immortality revived ; they fancied that 
those whom they had slain had returned to life, and they 
despaired of victor}^ over beings who could thus arise with 
renovated vigor from the grave. 

A^arious petty actions and skirmishes afterwards took 
place, in which the Indians were defeated. Agueybana, 
however, disdained this petty warfare, and stirred up his 
countrymen to assemble their forces, and by one grand 
assault to decide the fate of themselves and their island. 
Juan Ponce received secret tidings of their intent and of 
the place where they were assembling. He had at that 
time barely eighty men at his disposal, but they were 
eased in steel and proof against the weapons of the Indians. 
Without stopping to reflect, the high-mettled soldier put 
himself at their head and led them through the forest in 
quest of the foe. 

It was nearly sunset when he came in sight of the 
Indian camp. The multitude of warriors assembled made 
hi in pause and almost repent of his temerity. He w^as as 
shrewd as he was liardy and resolute; so, ordering some 
of his men in the advance to skirmish wnth the enemy, 
he hastily threw up a slight fortification, with the assist- 
ance of the rest. When it was finished he withdrew his 
forces into it and ordered them to keep on the defensive. 
The Indians made repeated attacks, but were repulsed 
with great loss. Some of the Spaniards, impatient of their 
covert warfare, sallied forth in open field, with pike 
and cross-bow, but were called back within the fortifica- 
tion by their commander. 

The cacique, Agueybana, was enraged at finding his host 
of warriors baffled and kept at bay by a mere handful of 
Spaniards. He beheld night closing in, and fearing that 



Ponce de Leon Land. 21 

in the darkness the enemy would escape, summoned his 
bravest warriors around him, and led the way in a general 
assault. When he approached the fortress he received a 
mortal wound from an arcj^uebuse, and fell dead upon the 
spot. 

The Spaniards were not aware at first of the impor- 
tance of the chief they had slain. They soon surmised 
it, however, from the confusion that ensued among the 
enemy, who bore off tlie body with great lamentations, 
and made no further attack. 

Ponce de Leon took advantage of the evident distress 
of the foe to draw off his small force in the night, happy 
to get out of the terrible jeopardy into which his rash 
confidence had placed him. Some of his fiery-spirited 
officers would have kept the field, in spite of the over- 
whelming force of the Indians. " No, no," said the shrewd 
old veteran; "it is better to protract the war than to risk 
all upon a single battle." 

While Ponce de Leon was fighting hard to maintain 
his sway over the island, his transient dignity was over- 
turned by a power beyond his control. King Ferdinand 
repented of the step he hadtaken in superceding the gov- 
ernor and lieutenant-governor appointed by Don Diego 
Columbus. He became convinced, though rather tardily, 
that it was an infringement of the rights of the admiral, 
and that policy, as well as justice, required him to retract 
it. When Juan Ceron and Miguel Diaz returned, pris- 
oners, to Spain, he received them graciously and conferred 
many favors on them to atone for their unjust ejectment 
from office, and after some time, sent them back, empow- 
ered to resume connnand of the island. They were ordered, 
however, on no account, to manifest rancor against Juan 
Ponce de Leon, or to interfere with any property he might 
hold, either in houses, land or Indians, but on the 
contrary, to cultivate the most friendly relations with 
him. The king also wrote to the hardy veteran, explain- 
ing to him that this restitution of Ceron and Diaz had 
been determined upon in council as a mere act of justice 
due them, but was not intended as a censure upon his 
conduct, and that measures should be taken to indemnify 
him for the loss of his command. 



22 Ponce de Leon Land. 

By the time the governor and his lieutenant reached 
the island Juan Ponce had completed its subjugation. 
The loss of the island's champion, the brave Agueybana, 
had, in fact, been a death-blow to the natives, and showed 
how much, in savage w^arfare, depended upon a single 
chieftain. They never combined in war afterwards, but 
dispersing among their forests and mountains, fell grad- 
ually under the power of the Spaniards. Their subsequent 
fate was like that of their neighbors of Hayti; they were 
employed in the labor of the mines, and in other rough 
work, so repugnant to their nature that they sank beneath 
it. In a little while almost all the aborigines disap- 
peared from the island. 



CHAPTER V. 



Ponce de Leon Resigns the Command of Porto Rico 
AND Returns to Spain to Look After His Ward 
Left Him by Satomayor — Hears of the Foun- 
tain OF Youth. 

BEFORE Ponce de Leon was superceded in the com- 
mand of Porto Rico he was visited by Agueybana's 
sister, the Indian princess, the most beautiful maiden 
on the island, to whom Don Christoval had intrusted 
some important papers, to be delivered to Ponce de Leon 
in case anything should happen to him during the out- 
break. She was the only person he could place implicit 
reliance upon. She promised, in case anything should 
happen to Don Christoval, to deliver the papers to Ponce 
de Leon, or lose her life in the attempt. It was at great 
danger to her life that she succeeded in reaching Caparra 
and delivering the papers into the hands of Ponce de 
Leon. 

Don Christoval seemed to have a presentiment that 
the Indians might destroy his little colony, and requested 
Ponce de Leon to take care of the faithful maid who 
brought him the message, and special care of his ward. 



Ponce de Leon Land. 23 

Douna Inez de Satomayor. With the former, Ponce de 
Leon had no trouble. He sent her to Hispaniola with a 
trusted messenger, and placed her in care of one of his 
friends and made ample provision for her tuition and 
maintenance for life. This, indeed, was a very delicate 
position. What could he do for a young and titled lady? 
He saw at once the difficulty he would encounter in the 
situation he was placed in. How" could a man like him, 
who had passed his life in camp and field of battle, expect 
to guide and instruct a young lady like Donna Inez de 
Satomayor? 

His being relieved as governor of Porto Rico had no 
effect upon the gallant and sturdy old warrior. There 
was a new world to be divided among men like him, 
who had the sense and courage to take it. He had 
amassed wealth enough to make him independent. The 
one point that did worry him was, how" could he comply 
with the request of Don Christoval de Satomayor? There 
was but one way, and that was to go back to Spain and 
settle the matter beyond any question. He embarked at 
once for Spain to carry out the request of his slaughtered 
comrade, and on his arrival there immediately proceeded 
to visit Donna Inez de Satomayor, so that he could pro- 
vide for her and return to Hispaniola for the purpose of 
further exploration in the Western Hemisphere. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Ponce de Leon's Introduction to His Ward, Dona 
Inez de Satomayor. 

ft 

ON arriving at his destination Ponce de Leon was con- 
ducted to the residence of Donna Inez. Great was his 
surprise when he was introduced to the beautiful ward 
of Don Christoval. If any one had told him, that a person 
so lovely existed on the face of the earth he would have 
doubted it. The man who had so often faced death 
in almost every form, now stood dumb for a moment. 



24 Ponce de Leon Land. 

What was this that came before his vision ? Was he dream- 
ing or in a trance? Could it be possible that this was the 
ward his old companion in arms had asked him to love, 
cherish and protect as a father ? A\'ith an extraordinary 
effort he collected his senses and advanced to meet Donna 
Inez, and received the warm clasp of her hand, which he 
raised to his lips with reverence. She saw at once 
that he was greatly disturbed by something. What it was 
she could not imagine. In a moment he collected his 
scattered senses and remembered what had brought him 
back to Spain. He placed his hand in his pocket and 
drew forth the package that he had received from her foster 
father, through Agueybana's sister. The moment her eyes 
caught sight of the subscription a glad smile of pleas- 
ure broke over her features. She recognized the writ- 
ing of her foster father, whom she had not heard frmo 
but once since his departure from Spain. He had spoken 
very highly of Juan Ponce, and given her quite a history 
of the veteran cavalier. Juan Ponce was the first to in- 
form her of the death of her foster father. She was struck 
dumb with grief when he told her that he had been slain 
by the treacherous savages ; tears blinded her eyes so she 
was unable to read the large pakage of papers that had 
been sent to her by her guide, protector and more than 
father. Both of her parents having died when she was 
an infant, she had been left to the care and protection of 
her kinsman. 

When this infant was brought to Don Christoval by a 
large retinue of servants, together with the papers and in- 
structions pertaining to her estates, and his appointment 
as guardian, with the request that he would be a kind and 
loving protector to their orphan child, Don Christobal rec- 
ognized at once the great responsibility that had been 
placed upon him by the death of his kinsman. When this 
little infant was placed in his arms, with its large, black 
eyes looking into his without the least sign of terror or fear, 
his heart went out to it in a great wave of love that time 
never dimmed. He there and then registered a vow that 
as long as life lasted he would love, guide and protect this 
second one left to him of his people. He made arrange- 
ments at once for the care of his little ward, retaining her a 



Ponce de Leon Land. 25 

nurse and a large number of the people who had been con- 
nected with her own household, and set about the arrange- 
ment of her estates, so as to derive the greatest benefits for 
his foster child at such time as she would need tliem. 
This little child grew up to be one of the most beautiful 
maidens in Sunny Spain. Don Christoval spared no ex- 
pense to give her the best education that it was possible 
to procure. He took her to his heart and cherished her 
as the greatest blessing Divine Providence could have be- 
stowed upon him. He saw at once that he was a better 
man for having this sweet-tempered companion. 

The time came, however, when he found he had 
other duties incumljent upon him. His king and country 
required his services; and it would be necessary to leave 
his foster daughter under the care of some one else. The 
infant had meantime developed into a sprightly, intelli- 
gent and healthy young lady. Her estates had been so 
well managed that on arriving at her majority she would 
possess one of the largest dowries in all Spain. 

Don Christoval was appointed governor of Porto 
Rico which necessitated his leaving his home for a time 
at least. Before leaving he transferred his own affairs 
together with that of his foster child to his younger 
brother Count of Camina whom he knew would give 
them best of care and attention. It was with reluc- 
tance that he obeyed the command of his king to accept 
the governorship of a province in the Western Hemis- 
phere, but his sense of duty was too strong to allow him 
to disobey the orders of his sovereign. He bid a tearful 
farewell to his beloved foster child and reported at once 
to the king. After receiving his instructions he started 
for his station. History will explain the result of his ex- 
pedition. * * * Donna Inez requested permission of 
Ponce de Leon to withdraw for a time until she could con- 
trol her feelings. She sent her maid to request him to 
accept of her hospitality as long as he should remain in 
that part of Spain. After having met his ward, Juan 
Ponce was almost as completely overcome by his emo- 
tions as the young lady had been when he informed her 
of the death of her foster father. He had made no men- 
tion of the request made of him by Don Christoval to be- 



26 Ponce be Leon Land. 

come the guardian of his ward, nor had his will been read ; 
it was sealed in a separate package with a request that it 
should be opened in the presence of his ward and the 
Count of Camina, who were to share the property equally 
between them. It gave to Donna Inez the title of Coun- 
tess and the possession of one of the largest properties in 
Spain. Ponce de Leon retired that night more agitated in 
mind than he had ever been in camp or field. What a 
position to be placed in ! He was aware that a man like 
him who had been in active service the greater part of his 
life was little fitted for such a delicate undertaking. The 
next morning he took a long walk through the forests and 
returned for breakfast where he met Donna Inez. He 
requested her to send for the Count of Camina as soon as 
convenient. She understood at once that the Count was 
one of the legatees of Don Christoval's will from the re- 
quest written on the package handed to her by Ponce de 
Leon. She had been out for a walk when she beheld Juan 
Ponce approaching with that brisk, firm step that is 
habitual to an old campaigner. His walk had done him 
good. His mind had become clear, especially on this mat- 
ter pertaining to the guardianship of Donna Inez. 

As they approached each other he scanned her face 
closely. Strong traces of the great grief she had passed 
through during the night was plainly shown by her care- 
worn look. When she extended her hand in greeting, it 
was clasped in his strong grasp, and with courtly grace 
he raised it to his lips. It caused a thrill to shoot through 
every nerve in his body ; a thrill he never forgot. It was 
only a short interval before the Count of Camina arrived. 
This was the first intimation of his brother's death 
he had received. He was greatly overcome by the 
sad intelligence. Juan Ponce then gave him the letter 
requesting him to assume the guardianship of Donna 
Inez, and stating that further information would be found 
in the package of papers addressed to his brother and his 
ward jointly. Juan Ponce requested that, as the papers 
were of grave importance to them all, that they should 
invite a holy father's attendance and others of their 
friends that could be found close by, and the package be 
opened the next morning in the presence of them all. 



Ponce de Leon Land. 27 

Juari Ponce retired; he wished to give the count and 
countess time to confer together and to overcome 
the shock of the death of their kinsman. Ponce de 
Leon wanted a chance to analyze his own feehngs ; he 
did not understand what could disturb his mind to such 
a degree ; the fair hand of Donna Inez seemed to con- 
stantly appear before his vision; what could it mean? To 
a man like Ponce DeLeon that had been used to hard- 
ships and dangers all his life, it seemed very strange. 
After a long, brisk walk he returned to the castle where 
he found the count and Donna Inez awaiting him. They 
were anxious to hear a more complete statement con- 
cerning the death of their only relative. After re- 
ceiving refreshments they wended their way to the fa- 
vorite arbor of Donna Inez. Seating themselves in its 
cool shade, Ponce DeLeon related the main incidents of 
the life of Don Christoval from the time of his arrival in 
Porto Rico until his death at the hands of the treacherous 
savages. There had always been the closest friendship be- 
tween these two brave men from their first acquaintance. 
The relating of his death caused DeLeon almost as in- 
tense grief as it did his own kinsman. It was most sor- 
rowful to all three. They bade each other a tearful good 
night and retired, with the understanding that at 10 
o'clock the next morning the package sent by Don Chris- 
toval was to be oj)ened and read before the reverend 
fathers and the rest of their friends in the vicinity. 

Juan Ponce went to his room but could not sleep. 
The unrest that attacked him upon meeting Donna 
Inez still disturbed him. He could not understand his rest- 
lessness. He drank a goblet of wine and stepped out on the 
veranda. Lingering there a few moments, his thoughts 
turned to the arbor where he had met the count and 
Donna Inez. He wandered through the grounds for a 
time — instinctively he was drawn to the bower. Parting 
the vines he entered, and in the faint light of the moon, 
saw something white seated in one of the niches where he 
had last seen Donna Inez. He moved forward to find 
out what it could be. To his great surprise Donna 
Inez arose with alarm and stood before him; she 
recognized by his voice who it was. She greeted him 



28 Ponce de Leon Land. 

kindly, and mutual explanations were exchanged a& 
neither of them were inclined for sleep after the exciting 
incidents of the day. Both had wandered out for fresh 
air, and both, evidently drawn by the same impulse, were 
attracted to the arbor. When he clasped her extended 
hand the knowledge of what had caused his disquietude 
and unrest for the past few days dawned upon him. It 
was the great love that had sprung up in his heart with- 
out warning for his ward. 

He lingered for some time conversing with Donna 
Inez, giving her many of the incidents regarding Don 
Cliristoval's death and the love that had existed between 
them. Soon they returned together to the castle,, 
when Juan Ponce retired. That night, the remembranc& 
of the tradition he had heard from the Indians, especially 
from the Caribs, came to his mind concerning the foun- 
tain of youth, should he find this wonderful spring he 
could renew his youth and return to Spain with a reason- 
able chance of winning the love of his ward. To a man 
who had led a solitary life like Ponce de Leon the thought 
that he could have a beautiful wife and a family to carry 
his name down to posterity was a lasting one. His mind 
reverted to frequent narratives he had heard from the 
Indians about the fountain of youth to the north of Cuba. 
If he could only find that spring and renew his youth he 
could return to Spain and win the love of his ward. 
Next morning he met the rest of the household at the 
morning meal, after which they assembled in the hall con- 
nected with the castle, to hear the reading of the last will 
and testament of Don Christoval de Satomayor. After 
reciting the disposition he wished to be made of his prop- 
erty, that was to be divided between his ward and his 
brother, it was his special request that Ponce DeLeon 
should be her guardian. She arose and came to 
Ponce de Leon at once, with her hand out stretched 
and with tears glistening in her eyes, and begged him 
to accept the charge her kind foster father had given 
him. He asked her to accept a seat next to him and told 
her that before accepting the great trust that had been 
bequeathed to him he wished to make a statement of his 
condition for the special benefit of his ward as well as 
for all concerned. Ho related his first meeting with Don 



Ponce de Leon Land. 29 

'Christoval and the history of their lives until his death 
by the hand of Aqueybana ; he stated minutely his career 
from bojT^hood up to that time. He cast his fearless 
■eyes around those assembled, then meeting the glance of 
the countess when a strong emotion took possession of his 
mind; he turned to the count of Cameria and said : Sir 
after hearing the history of my life can you or the countess 
Inez think for one moment of asking me to become the 
guardian of this young and titled lady?" The count re- 
plied : "Sir, I know of no one in Spain to whom I would 
rather entrust the welfare of the countess than to your 
brave and generous care. With your permission, we will 
leave it to the countess to decide for herself." The countess 
arose and stepped to the side of Ponce de Leon and said : 
" Kind sir, if you will accept the charge my loved foster 
father has asked you to take, I shall be blessed indeed, 
knowing that I have a guardian that I can love and re- 
spect in every way." Ponce de Leon turned and clasped 
the countess in a tender embrace, and imprinting a 
kiss upon her forehead he replied: " I accept this great 
trust and may our Lord deal with me as I do with you." 
In after years when ho wavS beset with perils and hard- 
ships this declaration came back to his mind with strong 
force. He knew if the Lord loved him with as great a love 
as he did his ward his salvation was assured beyond any 
question. After settling the affairs of the countess to the 
best ad vantage, he asked the count of Cameria if he would 
take care of his ward in case he should be compelled to 
leave Spain again. The remembrance of the tradition 
he had heard from the Indians in Porto Rico came to his 
mind continually with a force he could not subdue. He 
well knew tliat he was liable to ])e called on by his king 
to undertake some perilous voyage at any moment. There 
wfis one expedition which he was very anxious to make 
and that was to the northwest of Hispaniola and Porto 
Kico. 

As the business which they had l)een called upon 
to witness had been transacted satisfactorily to all, the 
countess requested them to accompany her to the dining- 
hall, where a repast was prepared for them. Turning to 
Ponce de Leon she said: "I am sure my kind guardian 



30 Ponce de Leon Land. 

will assist me in entertaining my people, for which favor 
I shall feel very grateful." He took her arm and eon- 
ducted her to the dining-hall, followed by her guests, 
where they were served w-ith a bountiful repast. After 
the holy father had offered a prayer for their welfare, 
Ponce de Leon asked permission to make a request of 
those assembled, which was granted: "Men of the house 
of Satomayor and De Leon, the time may come when I 
will be unable to be with my ward. Will you respond 
to her call at any and all times, whenever asked, both for 
counsel, protection and assistance?" They all arose and 
replied: "We will respond at any time, whenever the 
countess may call upon us." DeLeon thanked them in 
behalf of his ward. They seated themselves and pro- 
ceeded to partake of the repast that had been provided by 
the countess. After the banquet was over they gathered 
around the countess and asked permission to retire, as the 
duties for which they had been called had been performed. 
She kindly dismissed them, w'ith substantial tokens of her 
regard for them. She went to the library, where she 
found Ponce de Leon and the count in earnest conversa- 
tion. De Leon welcomed her and requested her to be 
seated, and said: "My dear lady, you have come here at 
an opportune moment for me to explain tlie situation in 
which I am placed. Since my arrival at your castle, and 
especially since the will of your kinsman has been read to 
you, with his request that I should become your guardian. 
Within the last few hours, in fact, I have realized how 
unsuited I am for the position which I have accepted, and 
for which I am totally unqualified. If you will look back 
to the history of my life, which I recited to you and the 
count, you will see how unfitted I am to have the guid- 
ance and control of a lady of your rank and station. Until 
I came here I never thought for a moment that I could 
care for a home life. Understand, I have been most of 
my life in the service of my king and country, where I 
have had more hardship than pleasure; here the thoughts 
of a home entered my mind for the first time. AVhile sta- 
tioned in Porto Rico I frequently met some of the chiefs 
of the Caribs, who told me of a wonderful spring of pure 
water that existed in a country to the northward of theirs, 



PoNX'K DE J. EON Land. 31 

whose marvelous virtue when drunk and bathed in would 
restore health and youth to all who could use its salutary 
water. Dearest Inez, if this spring exists I will find it, or 
lose my life in the attempt." 

"Dear sir, you have done enough lor your country. 
For the present remain here and do something for your 
people and mine. They need the care and guidance of a 
firm and intelligent man. Give up this idea of searching 
for this fabulous fountain, the existence of which rests on 
the report of the wild savages of the western hemisphere." 
"My dear countess, what can I say? J\[y mind is in 
a chaos. Permit me to retire until morning, by which 
time I hope to unravel this great problem placed before 
me." Bidding each other good night, they retired to 
their respective rooms. Ponce de Leon could not think 
calmly over his situation, so he started out for a walk in 
the open air. After a half hour's rapid walk, he returned 
to his room. The great bodily exertion had cleared his 
mind. He took a strong pull at the brandy flask and 
turned his attention to the situation in which he was 
placed, and to determine what he should do. 

It was a difficult problem which faced him. There were 
two questions to solve. What was he to do about the young 
lady much younger than himself, and with whom, to his 
surprise, he found that he was madly in love with ? How 
could he, in honor, ask her to marry him? Did she care 
for him? Could he seek her hand under the conditions 
that existed at the time? No it would be dishonorable 
in liim as her guardian, and an injustice to the countess. 
Then the great, strong love of his heart came before him. 
What should he do? His thoughts returned to the tra- 
dition of the Indians. He came to the conclusion that he 
would go to Ilispaniola and fit out an expedition for the 
exploration of the northwest country; the position he had 
canvassed very carefully while he was governor of Porto 
Rico. He examined the notes he had made while in 
Porto Rico and went over them with great care. He 
considered them with great attention in all their bearings. 
It only served to strengthen his resolution to fit out an 
expedition for the exploration of that wonderful country 
of which he had received such a varied account of from the 



32 Ponce de Leon Land. 

Indians. Could he find this fountain and drink of 
its rejuvenating waters, he could return to Spain and 
claim for his bride one of the fairest and noblest in all 
the land. The reward was too great to demand much de- 
liberation from a man of Ponce DeLeon's intrepid 
character. The chance of finding this fountain was 
too great to be relinquished. He ac<|uainted the count 
of Camina with his design and requested him to look 
after the affairs of the countess during his absence, and 
also after his own, which were of great importance. He 
hardly knew how much wealth he had accumulated until 
he looked over his papers to arrange for the disposal of his 
property in the event of his failing to return. 

After setting aside the amount that he deemed would 
be required for the expedition and for the purchase of ad- 
ditional vessels, equipments and stores to maintain them 
in service for a long time, he found a balance remaining 
which gave him infinite satisfaction. He could leave a 
sum to his ward that more than equaled her own. This 
thought gave him great pleasure. The thought that if he 
failed in his venture and should never return, the 
countess would see by the date of his will that his last 
moments in Spain were devoted to her welfare. 

It was near morning when Ponce DeLeon finished 
his labor. He was weary, and he cast himself upon a 
couch and slept as men can only sleep who are used to 
the camp and bivouac. At 8 o'clock he awoked with a 
bright and clear conception of what he had done during 
the preceding night and of what he was to do that morn- 
ing. He looked over his papers carefully and corrected 
whatever errors he Ibund in them. The strain on liis 
mind and body had been a heavy one; the page brought 
him a cup of coffee and some bread ; his candle was still 
burning; he took a bottle of brandy and turned a gener- 
ous quantity into a cup and burned it down to the quan- 
tity that he wished, turned it into the coffee and drank it, 
a tonic he had found in his long experience in the field 
to have the best effects to restore vigor and vitality after 
a long vigil or exposure. He then went down to break- 
fast. 

He found the countess seated at the board. She greeted 



PoNC'K DE Leon Land. S'.^ 

Him with u warmth that pleased him very miich, and seated 
him at her right, the place of honor. "The count and me 
rest of the memhers of the household assembled arouti'd 
the board and the meal was soon dispatched. Thocountbss 
requested Ponce de Leon and the count of Camnia to 
meet her in the hall at 11 o'clock, to which they assented 
at once. The count went to his room a few moments 
later and Juan Ponce started out for a walk, which he 
had always found to have a soothing influence upon his 
mind when greatly difturbed. They arrived in the hall 
nearly at the same time, and Juan Ponce saluted the 
countess with great respect and devotion. 

When they were all assembled, Ponce de Leon stated 
the decision he had arrived at during the night. He 
recited the peculiar circumstances that had connected 
him with the nobl(? family of Satomayor, and of the new 
asperations that had entered his heart. Since his arrival 
in Spain, it was the first glimpse of home-life he had seen 
since his boyhood. He asked the count to take charge of 
the affairs of his kinswoman, as well as his own, during 
his absence. In the event of his not returning, he was to 
be administrator for the two estates. 

"The papers pertaining to the countess will be left 
open; she can have access to them at any time. Also a 
part of my own papers. The remainder, when completed, 
will be sealed until my return or until my death. Dear 
sir, will you accept this great trust I request of you?" 

The count replied: "I will, and may the Lord guide 
me in carrying out your wishes, both as to my kinswoman 
and to yourself." 

Ponce de Leon turned to the countess with a courtly 
bow\ "Noble lady, I trust you will never have cause to 
regret the kindness you have bestowed upon a wanderer. 
If fate so wills, I shall return to you in a position to ask 
a great favor of you, which I cannot ask at the present 
time. I hope you will grant it, if your heart so wills, as 
freely and as earnestly as 1 ask it. Trust me, dear lady; 
it will be the mainspring of my existence to return to 
Spain and to you with a name that you will be proud of. 
If not, I will leave my bones to bleach in a western wil- 
•derness." 

3b 



Z4 Ponce de Leon Land. 

"Dear sir, let me dissuade you from this undertaking. 
You have had more than your share of hardship in this 
life. Remain here with us. We will try to compensate 
you for what you have been denied in your former life." 

"No, dear lady," said Juan Ponce, "I cannot remain. 
The prize is too great for me to forego the chance of win- 
ning it. I have communicated with the king about the 
exploration of this unknown country. He requested me 
to report to him to-morrow for instructions and orders. 
A fleet is to sail from Spain in a few days. I shall go 
with it. My fleet will refit at the port of St. German, 
Porto Rico. My people that remain here will be at your 
command for any service you may require of them. I 
will leave full instructions with the count for your care 
and the care of my afliiirs. Any advice you may desire 
will be willingly given you by him. • Dear Inez, believe 
me, I have not been unmindful of your interest and wel- 
fare. I trust you will be thankful for it some day. With 
your permission I will retire and arrange my affairs for 
my departure. I will be at your service as soon as they 
are completed." 

"Retire, noble sir, and examine this matter with care 
and discretion, and may the Lord guide you in your de- 
cision." 

Ponce De Leon retired and went over his papers 
carefully, making the necessary corrections and altera- 
tions. About 2 o'clock in the morning a courier arrived 
at the castle with a dispatch from the king, ordering him 
to report to him at once. He wrote a note to the countess, 
explaining the cause of his departure, and that he would 
return as soon as the business for w^iich he was called was 
transacted. He started at once for Validollid, where the 
king was holding court at that time. Upon his arrival 
he reported to the king. Together they went over the 
plans of liis expedition carefully. He gave him the his- 
tory of the reports he had received from the diffe-rent 
tribes of Indians in the West, and an especial account of 
the report he had received from the Caribs. The king 
gave him the necessary instructions, and stated what part 
of the expense would be borne by the crown. "Sir, I can 
give you but little instruction in this matter. I have full 



Ponce de Leon Land. 35 

confidence in your experience. You will have to rely 
upon your own judgment and discretion, to a great ex- 
tent. Send me a full report of your progress, whenever 
you have an opportunity. May you be successful is the 
wish of your sovereign." 

Ponce de Leon received his final order and letters of 
instruction ; also the date of the departure of the fleet. 
He found he had but a limited time to make his final 
preparations; he also needed rest and sleep. He went to 
a quiet hostelry, where he obtained both. After a long 
refreshing slumber, he awoke, much invigorated. After 
partaking of a hearty repast, he mounted his horse and 
started back to Castle Satomayor. 

. He arrived on the second day. The countess had 
evidently been looking for him. She advanced to meet 
him before he dismounted. She was very anxious to 
know the result of his mission. He gave the count and 
countess a full description of the route he proposed to take, 
the number of vessels and men that were to compose the 
expedition, and the amount of assistance to be furnished 
by the government. 

" Dear Lady : Will you meet me in the arbor this 
evening? I have some important information to impart 
to you that I wish no one else to hear." 

"I will with pleasure." 

Ponce de Leon retired to his room and completed 
his papers giving full instruction to the count for the care 
and disposal of his property in case he should fail to re- 
alize his expectations in his undertaking. He came to 
the conclusion that he ought to inform the countess just 
what aspirations had entered into his mind since his arri- 
val in Spain, and of the great love for her that had 
sprung into his heart. His great expectation was in the 
discovery of the fountain of youth. The savages were a 
peculiar people in their traditions and it would not be 
transmitted throughout the whole country without strong- 
foundation. It would be the greatest effort of his life to 
find it. 

In the evening he met the Countess in the arbor, as 
appointed by them. 

" Dear Countess, to-morrow I shall leave you. I 



36 PoxcK i>te" I^Ei^>r liASiPi 

have «kt:led your business the best I could for your bene- 
fit and ■ have left instructions for your welfare. Deal- 
Inez, since I came here I have learned that I love you 
with all my heart; with a love that cannot be estimated 
except by yourself; you are the main spring which will 
govern my actions in this undertaking. If I am success- 
ful can I return to Spain and win your love and claim 
your hand ?" 

'' My love you have had from our first meeting ; my 
hand you can have whenever you wish it. Give me the 
right to accompany you. I trust you will never regret 
liaving the care and advice of a true and loving wife to 
assist you in this expedition. I will give you the assist- 
ance that a true woman's love can give. Think this 
matter over carefully before you make your decision." 

Ponce DeLeon clasped the countess in his arms and 
pressed a kiss upon her lips. 

" Dearest Inez, you will never know what a terrible 
pang it gives me to part with you. Sometime hence you 
may know. Remember it is with the intent of a great 
benefit to us. Will vou trust me fully in this undertak- 
ing?" 

"Yes," said the countess, "and may our Heavenly 
Father prosper your undertaking. If you return you 
will find Inez, countess de Satomayor, with the same true 
love for you which now possesses her heart. Make this 
our expedition, not yours alone. It is for the benefit of 
our king and country and more especially for ourselves. 
I must not detain you longer. You must have a plenty 
to do to arrange your business for 3^our departure. Meet 
me in the garden where we can give our last adios with 
no other to witness it." 

"Adios ! my dearest Inez, may God in his infinite 
mercy bless and protect you." 

Ponce DeLeon went to the count's room and gave him 
liis pa])ers and instructions as to what he wished him to do. 

" Count, I leave to your care all that I have in this 
world except what I take with me. In the event of my 
death you are my sole executor. I have not forgotten the 
kindness you have shown me ; it will not be unrewarded ; 
the love and res])ect of .Juan Ponce de Leon will always 
be vours. Adios. !" 



Ponce de Leon Land. '47 

Juan Ponce returned to his room and retired. He 
had a refreshing sk^ep which was of great benefit to a maii 
in his condition. He took an early and substantial repast- 
He repaired to the garden where he found the coun- 
tess waiting to receive him. She again renewed her en- 
treaties to him to abandon his expedition: " For our wel- 
fare, for the love that you are assured of, stay here. Our 
interests are one, do not leave me alone, my heart has 
gone out to you, let me show you with how great n love. 
I will prove to you that Inez; Countess de Satomayor is 
worthy of the caviller she has bestowed her love upon." 

" Dear Inez, when I leave you, it will be for our ben- 
efit. It is the great love I bear you that bids me 
go. What greater devotion to you can I show than by 
carrying out this exploration contemplated in this expe- 
dition? If I return to you successful, it will be with an 
honor that no other man has ever achieved. With the 
experience of age and with the vigor of youth, dearest 
Inez, is not this a result that we should work for? Bid me 
God speed and pray for our success." 

" Go, and may the blessing of our Lord attend and 
protect you in danger, in sickness and health, and return 
you to me, to guide and comfort me in years to come. 
Go, then, if you so will it, and the prayers of Inez de 
Satomayor shall accompany you, both for your success 
and for your safe return to me. Accept this kiss and witli 
it the true love of my heart. May the good Lord bring 
you back to me. So you return I will be thankful. God 
bless and protect you is the wish of Inez. Adios ! " 



38 .PoNCE DE Leon Land. 

CHAPTER VIL 

Ponce de Leon's Search for the Fountain of Youth. 
His Discovery of Florida, Landing on the Third 
OF April 1512. 

PONCE DE LEON started for the port the fleet was to 
sail from. On arriving he found a large number of 
his followers ready and anxious to accompany him. 
He made the necessary arrangements and set sail the next 
morning. They made a very quick voyage and arrived 
at their first destination without delay. He fitted out his 
fleet for the exploration of the country to the northward 
of that colony. On the 3d of March, 1512, Ponce de Leon 
sailed from Porto Rico with three ships. Keeping a north- 
ward course, he fell in with the Bahama group of islands. 
He was favored with good weather and fair wind. On the 
14th of the month he arrived at Guanahani or St. Salva- 
dor where Columbus first put his foot on the shore of the 
New World. 

After making diligent search for the fountain de- 
scribed by the Caribbees he failed to find it, but was in no 
way discouraged. AfU^r some slight repairs to his fleet 
he put to sea. On the 27th of March he came in 
sight of land but could not reach the shore on account of 
the heavy sea. The whole country was covered with flow- 
ers from which circumstance as well as having discovered 
it on Palm Sunday, he gave it the name of Pascua 
Florida, the Indian name was Cautio. 

Ponce de Leon landed and took possession of the 
country for his king. He extended his exploration to a 
great distance examining every spring and stream for the 
fountain of youth which was the great object of his 
search. Disheartened by the perils which had beset him 
he gave up the quest to Captain Juan Perez de Ortrubia, 
and sailed back to Porto Rico. If he had not found the 
fountain of youth he had discovered a new country, 
which would always be an honor to his name. 
He returned to Spain and reported the result of his ex- 
pedition to the king, who received him with great favor, 
and appointed him Adalantadeof Bimini and Florida, 



Ponce de Leon Land. 39 

with authority to recruit men in Spain or the colonies for 
a settlement in Florida. It took him some time to perfect 
his plans. 

The Caribbees made several attacks on the island, 
taking many prisoners who were killed and devoured by 
them. So frequent were these attacks that the Spaniards 
feared they would have to abandon the islands. When 
€ver Ponce de Leon found time he visited his ward. She 
used ever}' persuasion in her power to dissuade him from 
undertaking farther explorations. " You have done your 
share of work for our king and country, do something for 
me ; remain here with us; we need your care and protec- 
tion. Will not the love that I have given you dissuade you 
from attempting another expedition. You have already 
expended a large amount of money for your former expedi- 
tions. Stay here with me, I will try to compensate you for 
all you will lose in such a dangerous undertaking. Here 
on my bended knees I beseech you not to leave me 
again." 

Ponce de Leon replied : " Dear one, it is the great 
love that I bear for you, that compels me to accept 
the command of this expedition which has been specially 
requested of me by the king. There have been three ships 
fitted out well armed and manned to chastize and subdue 
the Caribs. I know more about them than any one in 
Spain. The king relies upon my knowledge and experi- 
ence to subdue and stop their depredations. Can I refuse 
his request ? When I have complied with this order I 
will ask to be retired from active service. I will not leave 
you again, I will devote my time to you and to the wel- 
fare of our people. This I pledge you will be the last 
time I will leave Spain. 

" Dear Inez, this fountain of youth I am confident ex- 
ists, it is one of m}' highest aspirations to find it. Can I 
but return to you a youth in strength and vigor, with the 
knowledge and experience that no other man possesses. 
Dear heart, is not this a prize we should both seek for ? 

"The king has fitted out this armeda and assigned me 
to command it. Can I refuse to accept it? No, dear Inez, 
you will be the last one to request it; let me obey this or- 
^er, whether I return or not. It is my duty to my king, 



40 Ponce de Leon Land. 

and more especially to you, whom I love and honor above 
all else in this world. Bid me God -speed with your prayer 
daily at sunrise. I can turn to the East at that moment 
and know that there is one loving heart praying for our 
welfare and for my safe return. The king is aware of my 
experience in Indian warfare, and has requested me to 
subdue the Caribbees and also the Indians in Florida. Then 
I am to return to Porto Rico and superintend the reparti- 
mientos or distribution of the Indians, and the govern- 
ment of that island, assisted by a commission appointed 
by Don Digo Columbus. Dear Inez, this is a duty which 
I am thoroughly conversant with. I know the Indians 
and their habits and mode of warfare. Who in Spain to- 
day is more fitted to take command of this undertaking 
than myself? Our king requests it; I will not refuse. 

" Adios, dear one ; may the blessing of our Lord be 
with you forever. One more kiss, and now adios." 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Ponce de Leon's Expedition Against the Caribbees. 

PONCE DE LEON sailed in January, 1515, directing 
his course for the Caribbees country, with the inten- 
tion of subduing all the Indians of that tribe. Arriv- 
ing at one of the islands, he cast anchor and made a de- 
tail of men to go on shore to get wood and water, and 
women to wash clothing for the command, with a detach- 
ment of troops for their protection. The officer in charge 
of the party was evidently careless, and allowed his people 
to scatter. The Indians were ambushed, waiting for a fa- 
vorable opportunity for an attack, when they were dis- 
persed in a manner, so that it was impossible to concen- 
trate to repel them. They rushed forth from their con- 
cealment and killed most of the men, and captured the 
women and carried them to the mountains. 



Ponce dk Leon Land. 41 

This was a very heavy blow to Ponce de Leon, and 
depressed him very much. He returned to Porto Rico, 
and rehnqnished any further attemi)t to punish or sub- 
due the Caribbees. His health having becoming very 
much impaired by overwork and exposure, he gave the 
command of the fleet to Captain Zuniga. He remained 
in Porto Rico some time. 

Hearing of the brilliant exploits of Cortez, he came 
to the conclusion that Florida was a field which would 
equal and eclipse any of the previous discoveries hereto- 
fore made, even to the famed conquest of Mexico. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Ponce de Leon's Last Voyage — Attempted Settle- 
ment OF Florida — His Death and Burial in 
Cuba. 

IN 1521 Ponce de Leon fitted out two ships and em- 
barked on his last voyage of discovery and explora. 
tion. He had found that the land he had discovered 
was main land instead of an island, as he had previouslj' 
supposed. His voyage was tempestuous but he arrived 
safely. He landed with a strong detachment of troops 
and explored the country for some distance. They were 
attacked by a large party of Indians and driven back 
to their landing place. Ponce de Leon formed his men 
and made a determined charge upon them which broke 
their attack completely. While reforming his men a 
concealed savage fired an arrow into his thigh close to 
the femoral artery. He was carried on board his ship 
and ordered them to return to Cuba ; the arrow had 
been broken in the bone and the surgeon was unable to 
extract it. Soon after arriving in Cuba he died and 
was buried with great militarj'^ honors. He left a pack- 



42 Ponce de Leon Land. 

age of papers with his senior captain directed to Countess 
de Satomayor and one directed to the Count Camina, 
whom he had appointed his executor, both of his own 
and the countess' estates. 

In the package sent to the countess he gave full in- 
structions as to his wishes in regard to his own property, 
which was to be given to the countess entire, except a 
few legacies that were given to his faithful servitors and 
a large one to the count. Thus ended the career of one of 
Spain's most gallant and faithful cavaliers. 

The following epitaph was inscribed upon his tomb : 
"In this sepulcher rests the bones of a man who was a 
lion by name and still more by nature." 

The countess mourned the death of her gallant lover 
for several years. She never forgot the remark made 
by him at their parting, that he would find the fountain 
of youth or leave his bones to bleach in a western wil- 
derness. 

Some years after his death the countess met with 
one of Spain's best and most respected noblemen, who 
gained her love and to whom she was happily married. 

The fountain of youth was the chief object of Ponce 
de Leon's explorations in this country. It is too evident 
for comment. That a tale so fabulous should gain credit 
among simple, uninstructed Indians is not surprising; 
that it should make an impression upon an enlightened 
people appears in the present age altogether incredible. 
The fact, however, is certain, and the most authentic 
Spanish historians mention this extravagant sally of their 
credulous countryman. 

Martyr affirms in his address to the Pope "That 
among the islands on the north side of Hispaniola there 
is one about 325 leagues distant in which is a spring of 
running water of such marvelous virtue that the water 
thereof being drunk, perhaps with some diet, maketh, 
tho' old, young again ; and here I must protest to your 
Holiness not to think this be said lighty or rashly, for 
they have so spread this rumor for a truth through all 
the court. That not only all the people but many of those 
whom wisdom and fortune have divided from the common 
lot, think it to be true." 



Ponce de Leon Land, 43 

We must remember the Spaniards at that time were 
engaged in a career of activity which gave a romantic 
turn to their imagination and daily presented to them strong 
and marvelous objects. A new world was opened to their 
view, they visited islands and continents of whose existence 
mankind in former years had no conception. In this 
delightful country nature seemed to assume another form. 
Every tree, plant and animal was different from those of 
the ancient hemisphere ; they seemed to be transplanted 
into enchanted ground. After the wonders which they 
had seen, nothing in the warmth and novelty of their 
admiration appeared to them so extraordinary as to be 
beyond belief. If the rapid succession of new and strik- 
ing scenes could make such an impression, even upon the 
sound understanding of Columbus that he boasted of 
having found the seat of paradise, will it appear strange 
that Ponce de Leon should dream of discovering the 
fountain of vouth? 



CHAPTER X. 



The SficoJiD Attempt to Colonize Florida, by Pan- 
FiLO Narvaez. — Its Failure and Loss of All 
THE Party but Four. 

ON the 12th day of April, 1528, Panfilo Narvaez sailed 
from St. Jago de Cuba with four hundred men and 
forty horses. Landing near Charlotte Harbor he 
took possession of the country in the name of the king of 
■Spain, and promulgated in the Spanish language to the 
inhabitants of the country !in the name of the 
king of Spain: "I, Panfilo de Narvaez, cause to be 
known to you how God created the world and charged 
St. Peter to be the sovereign of all men, in whatever 
-country they might be born. God gave him the whole 



44 Ponce de Leon Land. 

world for his inheritance. One of his successors made it 
a gift to the king and queen of Spain ; so that the Indians 
are their subjects. You will be compelled to accept Chris- 
tianity. If you refuse, and delay agreeing to what I have 
proposed to you, I will march against you ; I will make 
war upon you from all sides ; I will subject you to obedi- 
ence to the church and his majesty ; I will obtain posses- 
sion of your wives and children ; I will reduce you to 
slavery. I notify you that neither his majesty nor myself, 
nor the gentlemen who accompany me, will be the cause 
of this, but yourselves only." 

While resting at a village near Tampa, Narvaez was 
shown some wooden burial cases containing the remains 
of chiefs, and ornamented with deer skins elaborately 
painted and adorned with sprigs of gold. Learning that 
the gold came from farther north, at a place called Apa- 
lachie, Narvaez immediately ordered his men to march 
thither. With more judgment, or prophetic wisdom, his 
treasurer Cabaca de Vaca, endeavored in vain, to dissuade 
him. Having distributed a small quantity of biscuit and 
pork as rations, he set out on the first of May with three 
hundred men and forty horses. They marched through 
a desolate country, crossing one large river, encountering 
only one settlement of Indians, until the 17th of June, 
when they fell in with a settlement where they were well 
received and supplied with corn and venison. The 
Spaniards, learning that this tribe were enemies of the 
Apalachians, exchanged presents, and obtained guides to 
direct them to the Apalachian settlement. • This they 
reached on the 25th, after a fatiguing march through 
swamps and marshes, and at once attacked the inhabi- 
tants without a word of warning, and put them all to the 
sword. The town consisted of comfortable houses well 
stocked with corn, skins, and garments made from bark 
cloth. 

Not finding the wealth he had expected, and being 
subject to the repeated attacks of the Indians, Narvaez, 
after a month's rest at Apalachee, divided his command 
into three companies, and ordered them to scour the 
country. These companies returned, after an unsucessful 
search for gold and food. The Spaniards continued their 



PoNCK DE I. EON LaXD. 45 

inarch toward the north and west, carrying with thein, in 
•chains, the Indian chiefs captured at Apalachee. This 
plan of securing the chiefs of an IncHan nation or tribe, 
and forcing them to march with the troops as guides and 
hostages, seems to have been adopted by each of the 
Spanish commanders, and always with disastrous results. 
The sight of an Indian chief in chains aroused a feeling 
•of outraged friendship, wherever they passed, and gave a 
premonition of the servile fate that would be assigned to 
their race whenever the Spaniards obtained dominion. 
These captives urged on the Indians to harass and persist- 
ently follow up the marching army, even influencing 
tribes that were inimical to themselves. 

The march of Narvarez through the western part of 
Florida continued until fall, with an unvarying succession 
of attacks and skirmishes at every halt, and often pitched 
battles at the towns that lay in his path. Little progress 
was made on their journey, owing to the uncertainty of 
their course, the unproductive and difficult nature of the 
country, and the unremitting attacks and obstacles op- 
posed by the wily Indians, who were ever on the watch 
to pick off man or Iteast, and to prevent the collection of 
supplies. 

Disheartened at the continued losses sustained by his 
army, and dispairing of ever reaching by land the Spanish 
settlement in Mexico, Narvaez, having reached the bank 
of a large river, determined to follow it to its mouth and 
take to the sea. Slowly they moved down the river, and 
arrived at its mouth in a sadly distressed condition. 
Despair lent them an energy that was fanned to a burn- 
ing zeal by the hopes of being able to reach their friends 
^nd salvation on the .shore of the same water before their 
view. A smith in their party declared that he could 
build a forge, and with bellows made of hides, and the 
charcoal they could supply abundantl}-, he could forge 
from their swords and accoutrements, bolts and nails for 
building a boat. Diligently they worked, incited by the 
memories of all their hardships and j)erils, and the joyous 
hope of safe delivery. Such was their energy and deter- 
mination that in six weeks they constructed from the 
material at hand five large boats, capable of holding fifty 



46 Ponce de Leon Land. 

men each. For cordage they twisted ropes from the 
manes and tails of their horses, together with the fibre of 
plants. Their sails were made from their clothing, and 
from the hides of their horses they made sacks to hold 
water. With these frail and clumsily-construct*:jd crafts, 
open boats loaded almost to the water's edge, without a 
navigator in the party, or provisions for a week, this little 
army of desperate men set out on the open sea, Narvaez 
commanding one boat; the others were under the com- 
mand of his captains, one of whom, Cabaca de Vaca, has 
preserved to us the account of this fatal expedition. 

De Vaca gives a long account of their voyage, and 
the hardships and misfortunes they underwent until they 
were all shipwrecked. Out of two hundred and forty who 
started on the return only fifteen were alive. Narvaez 
himself was blown off' from shore while almost alone in 
his boat, and never again heard of. Only the four are 
known certainly to have been saved, Cabaca de Vaca, 
the treasurer of the expedition, Captain Alonz Castillo, 
Captain Andrew Orantes, a negro or Turk named 
Estevanico. 

(kbaca de Vaca and his companions for nearly six 
years pursued their journey among the Indians. During 
all this long period they never abandoned their hope and 
desire of reaching Mexico. Finally, after many strange 
adventures, De Vaca arrived at the Spanish settlement in 
Mexico, and was received by his countrymen with the 
greatest consideration and rejoicing. 

Having been sent over to Spain, he presented to the 
crown a narative of the unfortunate expedition of Nar- 
vaez, representing that the country contained great wealth, 
that he alone was able to secure, and begging that he be 
made governor. In this he was disappointed, however, 
but placated by the government of LaPlat, in South 
America. 

The narative of De Vaca has been received by his- 
torians and antiquarians as in the main voracious, though 
describing some wonderful customs and people, it is the 
earhest account of Florida which we possess, having 
been published in 1555, and is of inestimable value. 



Ponce de Leon Land. 47 

CHAPTER XL 

The Third Attempt to Settle Florida by Hernando 
DeSoto, Results in the Loss of His Life by Dis- 
ease, and all but Three Hundred and Eleven 
OF His Command, 

MISLED by the fabulous stories told of the wealth of 
Florida, and by the still more deceptive account of 
De Vaca, and having before their eyes contiually 
the immense treasures actually secured ni Peru and Mex- 
ico, the Spaniards were satisfied that it only needed a 
force sufficiently largo and ably commanded to secure to 
the conquerors even greater treasures in their northern 
possessions. They were, moreover, convinced that the 
Indian tribes would not defend, with such persistent valor 
and great sacrifice a worthless country, when the incal- 
culable wealth as the Aztec had been so feebly defended. 

At this favorable moment there appeared at court a 
man who was acknowledged to be eminently qualified to 
inspire confidence in any undertaking he might enter 
upon. No knight stood higher in the esteem of his sover- 
eign, or enjoyed greater popularity with the cavaliers than 
Hernando de Soto. Born of a good family in the north- 
ern part of Spain, he had early entered the service of 
D'Avalas, the governor of the West Indies, by whom he 
was put in command of a detachment sent to Peru to re- 
inforce Pizarro. 

Here he exhibited a remarkable capacity and soon 
rose to be second in command. Having gained a valu- 
able experience and a splendid reputation in the con- 
quest of Peru, he was induced by Pizarro to seek pleas- 
ure or glory in another field lest his own achievements, 
should be rivaled by those of his lieutenant. A million 
and a half dollars was the sum which he received on re- 
linquishing the field. This, in those days princly for- 
tune was but a small portion of tlie exorbitant ransom 
paid by the captured Inca. 

Returning to Sjniin, his wealth and achievements 
seem to have excited genuine admiration rather than 
envv, and he at once became the favorite of the court. 



48 Ponce de Leon Land. 

His martial spirit craved adventures, and could not re- 
main content with the dullness of court life. He there- 
fore petitioned the King to be allowed to fit out an ex- 
pedition to occupy and settle the Spanish northern posses- 
sions. The country at that time designated a Florida 
extending from the Chesapeake Bay to Mexico, and, as 
was thought embraced the richest portion of the world, full 
of all things good. 

De Soto's request having been granted, he was at once 
commissioned Adelantado and Marquis of Florida. A fleet 
of seven ships and three cutters was at once purchased, 
armed and equipped for the expedition, and, as it was 
De Soto's intention to colonize the country, much atten- 
tion was given to provide a supply of such seeds as were 
desirable to introduce. It is possible that some of the 
seeds scattered by the followers of De Soto may to-day be 
reproducing themselves in Florida. 

The origin of the wild horse of America has also been 
assigned to the Spanish introduction at that time. So great 
was the desire to accompany De Soto, and so certain seemed 
the rich recompense of wealth, and honor to be achieved 
under such a leader, that the complement of a thousand 
men was recruited with ease: of this number more than 
three hundred were gentlemen of rank — knights and hi- 
dalgoes of the best blood of Spain — who lavished their 
means in the purchase of arms and equipments, thinking 
that with these they would procure wealth in plenty. With 
this brilliant corps were twelve priests to minister to the 
spiritual welfare of the Spaniards or Indians, or both. 

Leaving Spain in the spring, the fleet proceeded as far 
as Cuba, where it was delayed awhile in completing the 
arrangements. Here De Soto married the Lady Isabella, a 
sister of the famous Bovadilla. The enjoyment of the soci- 
ety of his new wife, however, could not detain him from the 
pursuit of honor. In May, 1539, he left Cuba, and landed 
in Florida on Whit Sunday in the same month. The bay 
in which they landed, now called Tampa Bay, was named 
by them "Espiritu Santo," in honor of the day on which 
they arrived. A detailed account of the march of De Soto 
would be too long for a work like this. Soon after begin- 
ning the march northward the advance guard of the Span- 



Ponce de Leon JjAnd. 49 

aard fell in with a body of Indians, who advanced, appar- 
ently, to oppose them. The Spai^iish captain, thinking it 
was an assault, ordered a charge, when, greatly to their 
.surprise, they heard the ISpaiuish tongue in a tone of sup- 
plication not to kill one of their own countrymen. The 
speaker proved to l)e the captive Ortiz, before mentioned. 
Having acquired a knowledge of the Indians and their 
language, he was a great acquisition to the command, al- 
though unable, from restricted confinement, to give a sat- 
• isfactory reply to the first question asked him by his coun- 
tryman : " Where is there any gold to be found ?" By the 
advice of Ortiz, or from motives of policy De Soto pursued 
a pacific polic}' at first, and met with friendly treatment 
and generous supplies of provisions at the various In- 
dian towns. The Indians at that time seemed to have 
paid considerable attention to agriculture, and to have 
lived in towns that were rudely fortified, and built with 
very considerable dwelling houses and barns. Some of 
the houses of the chiefs are described as more than a 
hundred feet long, containing many rooms and set upon 
artificial mounds. They were l)uilt of palings sometimes 
plastered with clay and covered with thatch. At nearly 
<ivery town the Spaniards found f)rovisions stored, con- 
sisting of walnuts, dried grapes, beans, millet and corn, 
besides growing vegetables, among which are mentioned 
beets. Some of the towns must have been very large, as 
many as six thousand inhabitants dwelling in and 
around several mentioned. At one town called Mabilla, 
the baggage and valuables of the Spaniards were carried 
within the palisades by the Indians forced to transport 
them. Then an attack was made upon the town and twenty- 
five hundred of the savages were slain. The chief and a 
•company of natives to transport the baggage were seized 
4it every town unless packmen were voluntarily secured. 
After marching a short distance away from their homes 
the women were allowed their freedom, but the men were 
led by chains attached to a Spanish soldier. Arriving at 
another town these bondsmen were released and new cap- 
tives taken to be, in turn, exchanged further on. 

In this manner did De Soto march through what is 

4b 



50 Ponce de Leon Land. 

Florida, thence iu a north direction through Georgia iutd 
South CaroUna, thence back to the vicinity of Pensacola. 

While in South Carolina De Soto fell in with an in- 
telligent race of Indians, whose sovereign was a woman. 
Here he secured a large store of pearls, nearly three hun- 
dred pounds, some of which were said to be worth their 
weight in gold. These, however, were all lost, together 
with the other valuables and baggage in the burning of 
the town Mabila. 

Trusting to the disingenuous tales of the Indians, 
and ever led on by his overweening faith in the existence 
of vast stores of gold, De Soto had marched on and ever 
further on until consuming a year's time, he had made a 
oomplete circuit of the country, and found himself empty 
handed within six days march of Pensacola, then called 
Ochus. Here he had ordered his lieutenant, Maldonado, 
to await his arrival with the ships he had sent back to 
Cuba for a supply of provisions and mining tools. 

De Soto at this time exhibited that masterly force of 
character which had secured his former success and his 
great influence. Unwilling to endure the disgrace that 
would attach to an unsuccessful issue of the expedition, a 
disaster which, with the unfortunate results of former expe- 
ditions, he feared would preclude any further attempts to 
settle the Spanish domains in Florida, he resolved to con- 
ceal from his followers their location and the nearness of 
the fleet, lest, being disheartened by their want of success 
and worse than uncertain prospect of the future, they 
would refuse to continue on, and taking possesion of the 
ship, set sail for the West Indies. He, therefore, forbade 
Ortiz to mention to the troops the arrival of Maldonado, 
which had been learned from the Indians. Recruiting 
his men and horses by a short rest, he marched on again 
into the unknown wilderness, and turned his back upon 
home, friends, and all that makes lile worth living. Still 
searching for gold, he marched from region to region, ever 
meeting and overcoming difficulties and opposition, and 
yet unsuccessful. He proceeded as high as the Cumber- 
land river; then turning west, crossed the Mississippi, and 
reached the Red river. In that region the Spaniards 
wintered, and in the spring De Soto retraced his ste[)S to 



Ponce de Leon J^and. 51 

the Mississippi, having determined to reach the mouth of 
that river, from whence he could send to Mexico and 
Cuba for further suppHes. The disappointment and mor- 
tification which his gallant nature had so long opposed 
was eating like a cancer into his heart, and unsustained 
by a hope, which in other circumstances would have 
thrown off disease, his bod}^ at last gave way to fatigue and 
malaria, and he began to sink under a wasting fever. 
Deep despondency settled down upon him as he thought 
of home, his young wife, and all the comforts and pros- 
pects he had put so far from his reach. Calling his fol- 
lowers about him, he thanked them for their courage and 
devotion, and besought them to accept of his appointment 
of a successor to lead them after his death, which he 
assured them was near at hand. His followers tried to 
afford him the regulation comfort at such times, depicting 
this life as so full of misesy that he was most happy who 
was soonest relieved of its burdens. They finally received 
from him the appointment of Louis Moscoza as their 
captain. 

Shortly after, on the 21st day of May, 1542, died 
that chivalrous knight, Don Hernando de Soto, Governor 
of Cuba and Adelantade of Florida, far from his native 
land, in the wilderness on the bank of the great Father 
of Waters, whose vast and turbid flow ever recalls his 
great name and deeds, and whose discovery has proved 
his most enduring remembrance. 

Desirous of impressing the Indians with the super- 
natural origin of De Soto, his followers declared that his 
father, the Son of God, had taken him to Himself, and 
lest their deception should be manifest by the sight of his 
dead body, the corpse w^as placed in a canoe, and in the 
night, consigned to the waters of the mighty river. 

Immediately after the death of De Soto, the Spaniards 
began to build boats and collect provisions in preparation 
for their long voyage. They continued thus employed 
until the annual floods had subsided, when they descended 
to the Gulf. Though continuously receiving attacks from 
the Indians, they at last reached the Spanish settlement 
of Parnuco, in Mexico. Here they were received with 
joy, and every kindness proffered them. Three hundred 



52 Ponce de Leon Land. 

and eleven men kneeled before the altar in thanksgiving 
to God for their deliverance from those distresses and 
|)erils which had swept away more than two-thirds of the 
gallant army that four years before had landed in Florida — 
an army that had overrun a country containing thou- 
sands of brave inhabitants, subsisted for more than three 
years on the country through which it passed, ever main- 
tained the unity of its command and devotion to its val- 
orous leader while he lived, and executed his wishes after 
his death. 



CHAPTER XIL 



Huguenot Settlement Under Ribaut and Laudon- 

NIERE. 

THE settlement of Florida originated in the religious 
troubles experienced by the Huguenots under Charles 
the Ninth of France. Admiral Coligny, as early as 
lo55, projected colonies in America, and sent an expedi- 
tion to Brazil, which proved unsuccessful. Having pro- 
cured permission from Charles the Ninth to found a colo- 
ny in Florida, a designation which embraced in a rather 
indefinite manner the whole country from the Chesapeake 
to the Tortugas, he sent an expedition in 1562 from 
France, under the command of Jean Ribaut, composed of 
many young men of good families. The little Huguenot 
fleet touched first the harbor of !St. Augustine, in Florida. 
Making their way along the coast they discovered Port 
Royal. They were charmed with the beauty of the scene, 
and chose this spot for their future home, and built a 
small fort, which they named Carolina, in honor of their 
king. Leaving a small garrison to defend it, Ribaut went 
back to France with the ships for reinforcements. Civil 
war was then raging in France, and Coligny was ost 



Ponce de Leon Land, 53 

powerless, but not discouraged. During a lull in the 
tempest of civil commotion another expedition was sent 
to America, under the command of Rene de Laudonniere, 
and made its first landing at the river of Dolphins, being 
the present harbor of St. Augustine. Laudonniere had 
accompanied Ribaut on his first voyage. They arrived 
in July, lo64, pitched their tents on the banks of the St. 
Johns, and built Fort Carolina. There was great disso- 
luteness among these immigrants; some of them turned 
pirates and depredated extensively upon the Spanish pro- 
perty in the West Indies. The remainder became dis- 
contented, and were about to embark for France when 
the fleet arrived with immigrants and supplies. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Founding of St. Augustine nv Menexdez, 1 565 — At- 
tack Upon the French Settlement on the St. 
Johns. 

WHEN the Spanish monarch heard of the settlement 
of French Protestants within his claimed territory 
and of the piracies of some of the immigrants, he 
adopted measures for their expulsion and punishment. 
Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles, a brave military chief, 
was appointed by his king the liereditary governor of the 
Floridas, on condition that he should expel the French 
from the soil, conquer the natives and plant a colony 
there. In 1562 the site where St. Augustine now stands 
was an extensive village of the Selove Indians. Me- 
nendez arrived on the ()th of September with a strong, 
armed force, and landed his troops in the harbor, giving 
it the name of St. Augustine in commemoration of having 
come in sight of the coast of Florida on the anniversary 
of a saint of that name, 28th August, 1 865. Here he found 
three of his ships already debarking their troops, guns and 



54 * Ponce de Leon Land. 

stores. Two of his officers, Patano and Viucente, had taken 
possession of the dweUing of Indian Chief Selvoe. It was a 
large barnlike structure, strongly framed of entire trunks 
of trees, and thatched with palmetto leaves. Around it 
they were throwing up entrenchments of fascines and sand ; 
gangs of negroes with picks and shovels and spades were 
toiling at the work. 

Such was the foundation and birth of St. Augustine, 
tlie oldest town in the United States, and the introduction 
of slave labor upon this soil. The next day, with great 
ceremony and pomp, Menendez proclaimed his king, 
Philip the Second, monarch of all North America. While 
Menendez was making haste to fortify his position at St. 
Augustine, Ribaut was preparing to descend the coast, 
and, by a sudden attack, capture the Spanish fleet and 
cut off the settlement. This plan was ineffectually op- 
posed by Laudonniere. His opposition to the plan of ac- 
tion adopted may have been tlie cause of his failure to 
accompany the expedition. Removing the artillery and 
garrison to his fleet, and leaving in the fort the non-com- 
batants, including women, children and invalids, to the 
number of two hundred and forty, under the command 
of Laudonniere, Ribaut set sail to attack the Spaniards 
on the 10 til of .Se})tember. 

They bore rapidly down until in sight of the Spanish 
vessels anchored off the bar of St. Augustine. Before the 
enemy were reached, and the fleet collected for action, 
Ribaut found hiniself in the midst of one of those gales 
which occur with suddenness and violence on the coast of 
Florida at different periods of every fall. The tempest 
rendered his ships unmanageable and finally wrecked 
them all at different points on the coa.st south of Mantan- 
zas Inlet. 

Menendez had watched the French ships as they ap- 
proached St. Augustine; observing the severity of the 
storm, he was satisfied that the fleet could not beat back 
in its teeth should they escape shipwreck; therefore their 
return was impossible for several days after the storm 
should cease. Menendez determined to seize the favorable 
opportunity to attack the fort on the St. Johns. He 
gathered a picked force ; and, with eight days' provisions. 



Ponce de Leon Land. 55 

began a march across the country, under the guidance of 
two Indians, who were unfriendly to the French. The 
march proved difficult on account of the pouring rains 
and their ignorance of the country. The swamps and 
baygalls, many of them waist deep with water, proved so 
embarrassing that it took three days of laborious march- 
ing, amidst great discomfort, to cover the distance of fifty 
miles between the two posts. Immediately after the de- 
parture of the ships, Laudouniere had set to work, with 
the force at his command, to repair the breaches in the 
fort that had been made when they had expected to re- 
turn to France. He also began to discipline his men, so 
as to be a guard to the post. For several days the reg- 
ular watches were kept up by the captain who had been 
appointed, but as the gale continued they began to feel 
confident that no attack would be made while the weather 
was so inclement, and therefore ceased to be vigilant. 
On the night of September 19th the gale had been very 
severe, and at daybreak, finding the captain of the watch 
was in his quarters, the sentinels went under shelter. At 
this very moment the soldiers under Menendez were in sight 
kneeling in prayer. From prayer they rushed to the at- 
tack, gaining entrance to the fort. Without much oppo- 
sition they began an indiscriminate slaughter. Laudou- 
niere with twenty men sprang from the walls and escaped 
into the woods, from whence he made his way across the 
marshes to a small vessel in the river, which had been 
left in charge of Captain Jaques Ribaut, a son of the Ad- 
miral. From thence they proceeded to France, without 
making any effort to find their companions of Ribaut's 
fleet or to learn their fate. 

An order from Menendez to spare the women, children 
and cripples put a stop to the massacre; though, it is said, 
"to escape death they were forced to submit to slavery." 
The French account says that all men who escaped instant 
death were hung to the limbs of neighboring trees. This 
may be exaggerated, but it is certain the Spaniards sus- 
pended the bodies of some of the Frenchmen and set up 
this inscription ; " No por Franceses, sino por Luteranos." 
Menendez found in the fort six trunks filled with books, 
well bound and gilt, from which the owners did not say 



56 Ponce de Leon Land. 

mass, but preached their Lutheran doctrine every evening ;: 
all of which books he directed to be burned. 

Fearing lest Ribaut should have escaped destruction 
in the storm, and returning should make an attack in his 
absence, Menendez hurried back to St. Augustine. He took 
with him only fifty men, the remainder being left under 
the command of his son-in-law, De Valdez, who was 
ordered to build a church on the site selected by Menendez, 
and marked by the erection of crosses. After the com- 
pletion of the church De Valdez was to use every effort to 
strengthen the captured fort. 

Arriving at St. Augustine, Menendez was hailed as 
conqueror, and having been escorted into the place b}"- 
the priests and people who had been left behind, a solemn 
mass was repeated, and the Te Deum chanted to celebrate 
the victory. 

Several of Ribaut's vessels were wrecked between 
Mosquito and Matanzas Inlets. Strange as it may ap- 
pear, in the destruction of the whole fleet, but one lite was 
lost from drowning. It often happens on the sandy por- 
tion of the Florida coast that vessels will be driven high 
upon the beach by the force of the swell, and there left by 
the receding tide in a sound condition. 



CHAPTER XIA^ 

Massacre of the French Colonists by Menendez. 

ABOUT two hundred men had collected on the barrier 
at Matanzas Inlet, while a large party with Ribaut 
were gathered on the barrier farther to the south. 
The Indians soon after reported to Menendez that a large 
body of men were at the Inlet, four leagues south, that 
were unable to cross. He marched with forty men for 
the inlet, and arrived at Matanzas the same evening. 
His course was down the beach on Anastasia Island, as 



Ponce de Leon Land. 57 

the account speuks of his ordering tlie boats to keep 
abreast of him on the march. 

Having come to the mouth of the inlet one of the 
Frenchmen swum across and reported that the party there 
assembled belonged to one of the vessels of Ribaut's fleet. 
Menendez returned the man in a boat, and ottered a 
pledge of safety to the French captain and four or five of 
his lieutenants, who might choose to cross over and hold 
an interview. Upon this pledge the captain crossed over 
in the boat with four of his companions. These begged 
of Menendez that he would provide them with boats that 
they might cross that inlet and the one at ot. Augustine, 
and return to their fort twenty leagues to the north. 
Upon this Menendez informed them of the capture of the 
fort and the destruction of the garrison. The captain 
thereupon besought that they be furnished with a vessel 
to return to France, observing that the French and 
Spanish kings were loving brothers, and the two nations 
at peace. Menendez, in reply, asked if they were Catho- 
lics, to which it was answered that they were of the new 
religion. Then Menendez answered that if they had been 
Catholics he would feel he was serving his king in doing 
them kindness, but Protestants he considered as enemies, 
against wdiom he should wage war unceasingly, both 
against them and against all that should come into the 
territory of which he was Adelantado, having come to 
these shores in the service of his king to ])lant the holy 
faith, in order that savages might be brought to a knowl- 
edge of the Holy Catholic religion. 

Upon hearing this the captain and his men desired 
to return and report the same to their companions, and 
were accordingly sent back in the boat. Soon after, ob- 
serving signals or signs from the opposite shore, the boat 
was sent over to learn their pleasure. 

The French the endeavored to make some terms for 
a surrender, with the privilege of ransom. There being 
many members of noble and wealthy families among 
them, as much as fifty thousand ducats were ottered for a 
pledge of safety. Menendez would make no pledge, 
simply sending word that if they desired they could sur- 
render their arms and yield themselves to his mercy, in 



o8 Ponce de Leon Land. 

order that he might do unto them what should be dictated 
to him by the grace of God. The French seemed to have 
had an instinctive feeling that it would fare hard with 
them should they yield themselves to the Spaniards, yet 
they were so wholly demoralized and disheartened by 
the misfortunes that had befallen them, that, after much 
delay and parley, they finally sent word to Menendez 
that they were willing to yield themselves, to be dealt 
with as he willed. The French were therefore trans- 
ported across the sound in parties of ten at a time. As 
each boat load was landed Menendez directed that the 
prisoners be led behind the scrub, and their hands pin- 
ioned behind their backs. This course, he declared to 
them to be necessary, as he had but a small number of 
men in his command, and if left free it would be an easy 
matter for the French to turn upon him and revenge them- 
selves for the destruction of their fort and Laudonniere's 
command. In this manner was secured the whole body 
of the French that had collected on the southern shore of 
Matanzas Inlet, to the number of two hundred and eight 
men. Of this number eight in response to an inquiry, 
declared themselves Catholics, and were sent to St. Au- 
gustine in the boat. The remainder were ordered to 
march with the Spanish soldiers on their path back to the 
settlement. Menendez had sent on in advance an officer 
and a file of soldiers, with orders to wait at a designated 
spot on the road, and as the parties of Frenchmen came 
up to take them aside into the woods and put them to 
death. In this manner the whole party were killed, and 
their bodies left on the sands to feed the buzzards. 

Menendez had scarcely reached St. Augustine before 
he learned that there was a larger body of the French 
assembled at the spot where he had found the first party, 
who were constructing a raft on which to cross the inlet. 
Hurrying back with his troops, he sent a message to the 
commander, whom he rightly conjectured was Ribault 
himself. He told him that he had destroyed the fort on 
the St. Johns and a body of those who were shipwrecked, 
promising him a safe conduct if he wished to cross over 
and satisfy himself as to the truth of this report. 

Ribaut availed himself of this ofifer, and was shown 



Ponce de Leon Land. 59 

the dead bodies of his men, who had been so cruelly 
murdered. He was allowed to converse with one of the 
prisoners, who had been brought in the company of the 
Spaniards. This man was one of the eight who were 
Catholics, and was spared from the former com])any. 

Ribaut endeavored to negotiate for the ransom of 
himself and his men, offering double the sum before 
named by the French captain : but Menendez refused to 
listen to any terms, except an unconditional surrender. 
After ineffectually offering a ransom of two hundred 
thousand ducats, the French Admiral returned to his 
party and informed them of the demand of the Span- 
iards. In spite of the terrible fate of their comrades, 
which should have served as a warning of what awaited 
them, one hundred and fifty of the company, including 
Ribaut, decided to surrender to the Spanish captain. 
These were transported to the island and disposed of in 
the same manner as the former prisoners, saving only a 
few musicians and four soldiers, who claimed to be Cath- 
olics — in all sixteen persons. Two hundred of the French 
refused to trust themselves to the Spaniards, preferring 
the chance of preserving their lives on the inhospitable 
beach until they could find a way to escape to a more 
friendly country. These retreated back to their wrecked 
ships, and began to construct a fort and a small vessel to 
return to France, or at least to leave the fatal shores of 
Florida. 

Menendez soon after determined to break up the 
camp, fearing the presence of so large a body of enemies 
in his midst. Having fitted out a fleet of three vessels to 
co-operate by water. Menendez marched his soldiers a 
journey of eight days from St. Augustine. Here he found 
the fugitives encamped and prepared to resist an attack. 
Without delay the Spaniards were led to battle. The 
French, being poorl}' equipped, fought at a disadvantage, 
and were forced to retire beyond the reach of the cannon 
•of the fleet. Having captured the fortification, Menen- 
dez sent word to the French that if they would surrender 
he would spare their lives. A portion of the French 
refused to trust the pledge of the Spanish captain and 
withdrew to the woods. These were never heard of more. 



60 Ponce de Leon Land. 

The remainder came to the Spanish camp and surren- 
dered . 

After destroying the fort and setting fire to the 
wrecked vessels and the ships the French had huilt, the 
Spaniards sailed back to St. Augustine, brimming with 
them one hundred and fifty of the Frenchmen. To this 
remnant of the proud army of Ribaut the pledges given 
by Menendez were faithfully kept. 

It is difficult to believe that the unfortunate condi- 
tion of those shipwrecked Frenchmen, far from their kin- 
dred or race, thrown destitute upon desolate shores, and 
begging so earnestly for life, did not move the heart of 
Menendez to feelings of \niy. Doubtless a regard for his 
own safety, united with a furious fanaticism, too effectualh^ 
sealed the spring of charity in his heart. 

Let us hope that the sands of Florida will never again 
be reddened by the hand of partisans. The result achieved 
by Menendez occasioned great rejoicing at the Court ef 
Spain. Letters of congratulation and commendation were 
sent to him by Philip II and the Pontiff, Pius V. The 
Pope's letter is an able, dispassionate epistle. After laud- 
ing the virtue of Menendez, he declared to him the key 
note to his inspiration and the motive of his labors should 
prevent the Indian idolaters irom being scandalized by 
the vices and bad habits of the Europeans. 



CHAPTER XV. 

Pius Fifth's Letter of Commendation to Menendez. 

To Our Beloved Son and Noble Lord, Pedro Menendez de 
Aviles, Viceroy in the Province of Florida, in the Part 
of India : 

Beloved Son and Noble Sir — Health, Grace and 
the Blessing of our Lord be with you. Amen. 



J*5pNCE DE Leon Land. 61 

WE rejoice greatly to hear that our Dear and Beloved 
Son in Christ, Philip, Catholic King, has named 
and appointed you (.Tovernor of Florida, creating 
you Adelantado thereof, for we hear such an account of 
your person, and so full and satisfactory a report of your 
virtue and nobility, that we believe without hesitation 
that you will not only faithfully, diligently and carefully 
perform the orders and instructions given you by so Cath- 
olic a king, but trust also that you, by your discretion and 
habit, will do all to effect the increase of our Holy Cath- 
olic faith, and gain more souls to God. I am well aware, 
as you know, that it is necessary to govern these Indians 
with good sense and discretion, that those who are weak 
in the faith from being newly converted be strengthened, 
and idolaters be converted and receive the faith of Christ; 
that the former may praise God, knowing the benefit of 
His divine mercy, and the latter, still infidels, may be 
brought to a knowledge of the truth ; but nothing is more 
important in the conversion of these Indians and idola- 
ters than to endeavor by all means to prevent scandal be- 
ing given by the vices and immoralities of such as go to 
these Western parts. This is the key of this holy work, 
in which is included the whole essence of your charge. 

You see, Noble Sir, without my alluding to it, how 
^reat an opportunity is ottered you in fathering and aid- 
ing this cause, from which result: first, serving the Al- 
mighty; second, increasing the name of your king, who 
will be esteemed by man, loved and rewarded by God. 

Giving you, then, our paternal and apostolic blessing, 
we beg and charge you to give full faith and credit to our 
brother, the Archbishop of Rossano, who, in our name, will 
explain our desire more at length. 

Given at Rome, with the fisherman's ring, on the 
18th day of August, in the year of our redemption 1569, 
the third of our pontificate. 

(Signed) Pius Fifth, Pope, 



62 Ponce de Leon Land. 

CHAPTER XVL 

Refusal of Charles the Ninth to Take Noticb of 
THE Slaughter of His Subjects — Petition op 
Nine Hundred Widows and Orphans Unheeded— 
Menendez Strengthens His Position. 

AS the exaggerated report of the cruelties practiced by 
Menendez spread through Kurope, an intense and 
bitter feehng was excited. Indignation inflamed 
the breast of the French nation at the destruction of their 
fellow-countrymen, although the king, Charles Ninth, 
failed — in fact, refused — to take notice of the slaughter of 
his faithful subjects. A petition of nine hundred widows 
and orphans of those who had sailed on that fatal expedi- 
tion with Ribaut was unheeded by this sovereign. That 
the fate of the Huguenots was merited as the common 
enemies of Spain, France and the Catholic religion was 
the openly avowed sentiment of this unnatural, unpatri- 
otic king. 

Feeling the insecurity of his position, from which 
there was no place of retreat in case of a successful attack 
from a foreign foe, Menendez applied himself with the 
utmost diligence to strengthening the defenses of his new 
town, at the same time he instituted measures to insure 
a permanent settlement, and the establishment of civil 
rights and privileges. 



CHAPTER XVn. 



Laying Out the Town, With Its Defences — Erection 
OF A Church and Hall of Justice. 

THERE is but little doubt about the first landing 
of Menendez, and the attendant ceremonies. It is 
certain that soon after landing the foundation of the 
town was laid on its present site, and the town, with its for- 
tifications, regularly laid out. The city was originally 



Ponce de Leon Land. 63 

planned to be three squares one way by four the otlier. 
At this time a stockade, or fortification, was built upon 
the site of the present fort. About the same period a 
parish church and hall of justice were erected, and civil 
officers appointed. 

During the winter succeeding the settlement of the 
Spaniards at St. Augustine there was a great scarcity of 
provisions in the colony, so that the settlers were forced 
to forage upon the neighboring Indians, and to depend 
upon such supplies of fish and game as they might secure. 
The danger which attended any expedition for hunting 
rendered this but a meagre source of supply. Satouriva, 
the chief of the Indians who inhabited the territory to the 
north, between St. Augustine and the St. Johns river, had 
been friendly to Laudonniere, and from the time of the 
destruction of the Frenc'i he continued unceasingly to 
wage war on the Spaniards. His methods of warfare ex- 
hibited the same bravery and cunning that has since 
become characteristic of the Indians, never being found 
when looked for, ever present when unexpected. By the 
constant harassing attacks, encouraged by this chief, the 
Spaniards lost many valuable lives, among them Juan 
Menendez, nephew of the governor. 

To obtain supplies to relieve the distress of his colony, 
Menendez undertook a voyage to Cuba. The governor 
of the island was, through jealousy, unwilling to render 
him any assistance, and he would have fared badly had 
he not found there four of his vessels, which had been left 
in Sj)ain with orders to follow him, but, meeting with 
many delays, had only lately arrived in Cuba. 

With these vessels he returned to his colony, to find 
that during his absence a portion of the troops had muti- 
nied and iinjjrisoned the master of the camp, who had 
been left in command, siezed upon what provisions there 
remained, and taking possession of a small vessel arriving 
with stores, had set sail for Cuba. 

Menendez, with consummate tact, succeeded in arous- 
ing the flagging interest of his colony in the extension of the 
true religion, and managed, by his courage and presence, 
to remove the cause of dissention. Desiring to be rid of 
a portion of his colony who had proven quarrelsome, lazy 



G4 Ponce de Le(D'N LanI). 

and inimical to liis interest, he sent a body of them, num- 
bering one hundred, back to Cuba in one of the vessels 
going for supplies. The return of this vessel was anxi- 
ously looked for, as the colony had begun again to suffer 
from a scarcity of provisions and from sickness. Without 
Avaitiug for affairs to become desperate, Menendez sailed 
for Cuba to obtain the needed supplies. Upon his arrival 
he found the Governor of Mexico there, but so disparag- 
ing had been the reports of those who had deserted his 
standard that he was advised to give up his unprofitable 
enterprise, and the succor he recjuested was refused. His 
courage but rose as his circumstances became more ad- 
verse, and he determined not to relinquish his undertak- 
ing nor to return empty handed to his famishing colony. 
He pawned his jewels and the badge of his order for a 
sum of five hundred ducats, with which he purchased the 
necessary provisions and hastened back to Florida. Upon 
his return he was rejoiced to find that the distress of his 
colony had already been relieved. Admiral Juan de Avila 
had arrived from Spain with fifteen vessels and a thousand 
men and a large quantity of supplies, and, what was most 
gratifying to Menendez, a letter of commendation from his 
sovereign. 

Availing himself of the force now at his command, 
Menendez set out on an expedition to establish forts and 
missionary stations at different points along the coast, as 
had been his intention since his first landing in Florida. 
Several of these posts were, at this time, established by 
him in the territory then embraced in Florida, the most 
northerly station being on the Chesapeake Bay, which 
was the northern boundary of the possessons claimed by 
Spain. Priests or friars were left at each of these mission- 
ary posts for introducing Christianity among the Indians. 
Menendez became convinced that if all these establishments 
were to be maintained, and the most important work of 
teaching the natives continued, he must have larger mis- 
sions and greater forces at his command. Hoping to ob- 
tain this aid from his sovereign, he set out for Spain in 
the spring of 15()7. Upon his arrival he was welcomed 
by the king with many flattering attentions and assur- 
ances of aid in the furtherance of his plan for propagat- 
ing the Catholic faith. 



Po>'CE DE Leon Laxd. 65 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Expedition and Kktai.iatiox of De Gourgues. 

WHILE Meiiendez was occupied in Spain in forward- 
ing the intersts of his colony, in France plans 
were being formed, and a secret enterprise under- 
taken for an attack on the Spanish posts in Florida. 

Most inflaniniatorv and exaggerated accounts of the 
massacre at F'ort Carolina had bean published through- 
out P" ranee. One account says of the Spaniards that, 
after taking the fort, and finding no more men, they as- 
sailed the poor women, and after having by force and 
violence abused the greater part, they destroyed them, 
and cut the throats of the little children indiscriminately. 
They took as many of them alive as they could, and hav- 
ing kept them three days without giving them anything 
to eat, and having made them undergo all the tortures 
and all the mocking that could be devised, they hung 
them up to some trees near the fort. They even tiayed 
the king's lieutenant, and sent the skin to the king of 
Spain, and having torn out his eyes, blackened with tlieir 
blows, they fastened them on the points of their daggers 
and tried which could throw them the greatest distance. 

The French king had refused to listen to the appeals 
■of the relatives of the Huguenots who had been exter- 
minated in Florida, but, distressed by the destruction of 
their countrymen, and the harrowing accounts of the 
massacre, many of the nation had long telt it a mortifi- 
cation that an outrage so gross should have received 
neither redress nor rebuke. 

Among those whose zealous regard for the national 
honor was touched by the conduct of the French king, 
and in whose breast burned fiercely the fires of- revenge, 
was the Chevalier Dominic de Gourgues. Appearing, as 
he does, in history as the avenger of the sad de.-^truction 
his countrymen, in an expedition undertaken without 
solicitation, at his own expense and at the risk of for- 
feiting his own Hfe by the command of his king, even 
if he should be successful, it is but natural that his char- 

ob 



66 Ponce de Leon Land, 

acter should have been extolled and his virtues exalted 
by all writers who have admired his chivalrous courage. 

De Gourgues was born of noble parentage at Mount 
Marsan, in Guienne, and was said to have been a Cath- 
olic, though it is denied by the Spanish historians. 
His life had been spent in arms in the service of his 
king in Scotland, Piedmont and Italy. His career was 
that of an adventurer, ever ready to risk his life to ac- 
quire honor and reputation, and having little desire to 
amass riches. While serving in Italy against the Span- 
iards he was taken prisoner and consigned to labor as a 
galley slave. This ignominious treatment of a soldier of 
his birth and rank left in his mind an unappeasaljle 
hatred of the Spaniads. His period of servitude was cut 
short by the capture of the Spanish galley upon which 
he served by a Turkish pirate, from whom, in turn, he 
was liberated by Rumeguas, the French commander at 
Malta. His experience during his imprisonment and es- 
cape seemed to have opened his eyes to the opportunities 
for plunder upon the seas. Soon after his release he en- 
tered upon a maurading expedition to the South seas, in 
which he secured considerable plunder. He had but re- 
cently returned home, and retired to enjoy in quiet the 
property acquired in his ventures, when the news of the 
destruction of Ribaut's colony reached France. Eager 
to retaliate by a severe punishment this outrage upon his 
countrymen, De Gourges sold his property, and with the 
sum realized and what he could borrow on the credit of 
an alleged commercial venture, purchased and equipped 
a fleet of three vessels, one of which was nothing more 
than a launch. 

Deeming it impolitic to make known the object of 
his voyage, he obtained license to trade and procure 
slaves on the coast of Africa. He enlisted for a cruise of 
twelve months a force of one hundred and eighty men, 
many of whoai were gentlemen adventurers. He was 
careful to secure one, at least, of the men who escaped 
with Laudonniere from Fort Carolina. M. de Montluc, 
the- king's lieutenant in Guienne, a friend of De Gourgues, 
rendered him valuable assistance in securing his equip- 
ments. On the second of August, 1567, he left Bordeaux, 



Ponce de Leon Land. 67 

but was delayed by a storm eight days at the mouth of 
the river (Jaronne. Afterwards, having put to sea, he was 
driven by stress of weather far out of his course, and en- 
countered so severe a gale as to nearly wreck the fleet at 
Cape Finisterre. One vessel, in which was his lieuten- 
ant, was blown so far out of its course that for fifteen days 
it was supposed to be lost, which caused him great trouble, 
as his people earnestly besought him to return. The miss- 
ing vessel, however, met him off the coast of iVfrica. 
Land was then kept in sight until they reached Cape 
Verde; thence taking the direct route to the Indies, he 
sailed before the wind upon the high seas, and having 
crossed over, the first land which he made was the island 
of Dominique. From thence he proceeded, stopping at 
the island of St. Domingo to weather a gale, and at 
the island of Cuba for water, which he had to take by 
force, for he says: "The Spaniards are enraged as soon 
as they see a Frenchman in the Indies, for, although a 
hundred Spains could not furnish men enough to hold 
the hundreth part of a land so vast and capacious, never- 
theless it is the mind of the Spaniards. that this new 
world was never created except for them, and that it 
belongs to no uian living to stei> on it or breathe in it save 
themselves alone." 

De Gourgues had not revealed the real object of his 
expedition until after leaving the island of Cuba, when he 
assembled all his men and declared to them his purpose of 
going to Florida to avenge on the Spaniards the injury 
which had been done to the king and to all France. He 
set before them the treachery and cruelty of those who 
had massacred Frenchmen, and the shame tliat it was to 
have left it so long unpunished; an action so wicked 
and so humiliating, and the honor and satisfaction that 
would redound to them in removing from the es- 
cutcheon of France this foul blot. The spirit of the ad- 
dress was suited to the French temper, and they professed 
themselves ready to fight for the honor of France 
wherever the captain should lead. Proceeding on the 
voyage the fleet passed the bar of the St. Johns river in, 
sight of the forts whicli Menendez had constructed at the 
mouth of the river. The Spaniards mistook them for 



68 Ponce de Leon Land. 

their own vessels, fired two guns as a salute, which was 
returned by the French, desiring to continue the decep- 
tion. The fleet sailed north and entered the St. Marj-s 
river, where they met a large body of Indians prepared 
to dispute any attempt to land. Seeing this De Gourgues 
made friendly demonstrations, and sent out the man who 
had been with Laudonniere. The Indians readily recog- 
nized the Frenchman, and were delighted to find the 
strangers were of that nationality and enemies of the 
Spaniards. The chief proved to be Satouriva, the firm 
friend of Laudonniere. After learning the purpose of the 
expedition, Satouriva promised to join the command at 
the end of ten days with his whole force of warriors, de- 
claring himself eager to revenge the many injuries he 
had himself received, as well as the wrongs inflicted on 
the French. 

Among Satouriva's tribe was a white child, a refu- 
gee from Laudonniere's massacre at Fort Carolina, who 
had been protected and reared as a son by the old chief, 
though the S|)aniards had made strenuous eflbrts to secure 
possession of him or compass his death. This child's 
name was Petferde Bre, whom Satouriva had so faithfully 
defended, and he now brought him to the French ships, 
together witli his warriors, as he had agreed. Being 

'joined by the Indians, De Gourgues set out across the 
country, under the guidance of the chief, Helicopali, to 
attack the two forts at the mouth of the river. The 
Indians had promised to bring the command to the fort 
on the north side of the river by daybreak, but, owing to 
the difiiculty in following the intricate paths and fording 
deep creeks, they were nine hours marching four leagues, 
and the sun was rising as thev reached the vicinity of the 
Spanish fort. This fort was built on Balton Island, near 
what is now Pilot Town ; the other fort was nearly oppo- 
site, in the vicinity of the present village of Mayport. 
Both were armed with cannon taken from the French at 
the capture of Fort Carolina. 

The Spaniards, not fearing a land attack upon the 
fort on Balton Island, had neglected to clear away the 

• woods in the vicinity, so the French were concealed until 
they were close upon the fort. As they rushed from their 



Ponce dk Leon J. and. 69 

cover the Spanish sentinel fired twice when he was pierced 
by the pike of Alacatora, an Indian chief and nephew of 
Satouriva. The Spanish garrison were at breakfast, and 
before they could be summoned the fort was filled with 
the P'rench and Indians. So complete was the surprise 
that there was but little resistance. As many as possible 
were taken alive, by command of Captain Gourgues, in 
order to do them as they had done to the French. 

As soon as the Spaniards whose lives were spared in 
the attack could be secured, De Gourgues embarked as 
large a portion of his soldiers as the boats at his disposal 
would carry, and hurried to cross the river to attack the 
fort at Mayport. The Indians now wild with excitement, 
threw themselves into the water and kept alonside of the 
boats, swimming with their bows and arrows held above 
their heads. The Spaniards in the fort had by this time 
begun to realize the situation, and directed the fire of 
their guns upon the boats and Indians. Their excite- 
ment and alarm wtvs so great that they did not perceive 
a difference between the French and Indians, and seeing 
so great a multitude approaching, they broke in terror and 
fled from the fort before the French reached the walls. 
The garrison of the two forts was near one hundred and 
fort}^ men, all but fifteen of whom were either killed in 
the attack or slain by the Indians as they attempted to 
reach the mainland. 

The capture of these two forts occurred on the eve 
of the first Sunday after Easter, 1568. Crossing to the fort 
first taken, De Gourgues rested on Sunday and Monday. 
Scaling ladders and other ])n'})aratious for an attack on 
the main fort were the in meantime being pre})ared. While 
here a Spanish spy, disguised as an Indian, was recog- 
nized by Alacatora and brought to De Gourgues. From 
him it was learned that the French force was estimated 
at quite two thousand men, and that the garrison of 
Mateo, formerly Fort Carolina, was two hundred and 
sixty men. 

Hearing this report De Gourgues was more anxious 
than ever to make an immediate attack. He directed 
the Indians to advance, some on each side of the river, 
and take up positions in the vicinity of the fort. Early 



70 PoKCE DE Leon Land. 

on the morning of the next day he moved his forces up 
the river and gained a mountain covered with forest, at 
the foot of which was built the fort. He had not intended 
to attack the fort until the day after his arrival, but while 
posting his men and the Indian forces, it happened that 
the Spaniards made a sally with sixty arquebusers to re- 
connoiter his forces. 

This body he succeeded in cutting off from the fort 
and totally destroying. Seeing the fate of so large a part 
of their garrison the remainder of the Spaniards left the 
fort in hopes that they might make their way to St. 
Augustine. Entering the woods they were everywhere 
met by the Indians. None escaped and but few taken 
alive. Entering the fort the French found a number of 
fine cannon, besides a great quantity of small arms, such 
as arquebuses, corslets, shields and pikes. 

The Frenchmen were now upon the scene of the 
massacre of their countrymen, and, as the taunting irony 
of the tablet erected by Menendez was before their eyes, 
the spirit of vengeance was aroused. Ordering all the 
Spaniards who had been taken alive to be led to the 
place where they had hung the Frenchman, De Gourgues 
rebuked them in scathing terms. He declared they could 
never undergo the punishment they deserved, but it was 
necessary to make an example of them, that others might 
learn to keep the peace which they had so wickedly vio- 
lated. 

This said, they were tied to the same trees on which 
they had hung the Frenchmen, and in the place of the 
inscription which Pedro Menendez had put over them, 
containing these words in the Spanish language : " I do 
this not as to Frenchmen, but Lutherans,' so DeGourgues 
in like manner, erected an inscription that he had done 
this to them not as to Spaniards, nor as to outcasts, but 
as to traitors, thieves and murderers. 

One of the Spaniards is said to have confessed that 
he had hung up five Frenchmen with his own hand, and 
acknowledged that God had brought him to the punish- 
ment he deserved. The next day, while frying fish, an 
Indian set fire to a train of powder laid by the Spaniards 
which had not been discovered, and the whole interior of 



Ponce de Leon Land. 71 

the fort was destroyed. Being aware that his forces 
were too weak to hold the country, and having accom- 
phshed all that he crossed the ocean to perform, DeGour- 
ges completed the destruction of the fort and, bidding 
adieu to the Indians, sailed for France. The fleet arrived 
at La Rochelle on the 6th of June after a voyage of thir- 
ty-four days. The loss of life in the enterprise had been 
but "a few gentlemen of good birth," a few soldiers in the 
attack, and eight men on the launch which was lost at 
sea. 

Being received with all honor, courtesy and kind 
treatment by the citizens of La Rochelle, where he re- 
mained a few days, De Gourgues then sailed for Bordeaux. 
The Spaniards being advised of his arrival, and what he 
had done in Florida, sent a large ship and eighteen 
launches to surprise and capture him. This formidable 
fleet arirved in the roadstead of La Rochelle the very day 
of his departure. The head of DeGourgues was demanded 
and price set upon it by the king of Spain. Though his 
acts were repudiated by the French king, he was protec- 
ted and concealed by Marigny, president of the Council, 
and by the receiver, Vacquieux. After a time he was the 
recipient of marked honors at the French court, and died 
in 1582, to the great grief of such as knew him. 

Thus ends the sad drama of the slaughter of twelve 
hundred men or more. That both Menendez and De 
Gourgues deserved great censure no one can deny. We 
miust remember, however, that if Menendez had taken all 
the Frenchmen prisoners, that he killed, famine would 
have stared him in the face. He was appointed Adelan- 
tado of Florida under the promise of driving out the 
French and colonizing this territory. Could he have 
fed the French prisoners if he had captured them? 
Would it not have caused the abandonment of the colo- 
nization of this territory ? His great care and sacrifice for 
his colony in after years, and his great labor for the estab- 
lishment of the Christian religion among the Indians 
shows conclusively that he was not altogether hard of 
heart. 

Who can tell what would have been the result of 
French colonization in this territory at this time, instead 



72 Ponce de Leon Land. 

of the Spanish, to whom it undoubtedly belonged b}^ right 
of discovery ? 

That De Gourgues was influenced by revenge for the 
indignities placed upon him while a prisoner of war in 
the hands of the Spaniards cannot be doubted. His great 
patriotism, the honor of his country, together with the 
exaggerated report of the cruel slaughter of his country- 
men, led him to this terrible retribution and slaughter of 
the Spaniards. 

While these events were transpiring Menendez had 
completed his equipment, and sailed with a fresh supply 
of men and means for his colonies in Florida. His first 
information of the disaster which had overtaken his post 
on the St. Johns was received after his arrival at St. Au- 
gustine. So humiliating a disaster as the capture of three 
of his forts, well fortified and garrisoned with four hun- 
dred trained men, was the occasion of great mortification 
and v,exation to this gallant knight, especially since the 
victors were the avengers of the former colonists, and the 
forces that accomplished the affair were so greatly out- 
numbered by his soldiers, who were also well defended 
by strong forts. To add to the discouragement, the condi- 
tion of the colony at St. Augustine was found to be most 
distressing. The garrison was nearl}' naked, the colonists 
half-starved, and the attacks of the Indians growing more 
frequent and reckless as the weakness and despondency 
of the Spaniards became more apparent. The intrepid 
and indomitable spirit of Menendez did not bend under 
these obstacles and reverses, which would have crushed a 
nature of ordinary mould. His extraordinary and com- 
prehensive genius opened a way, in the midst of almost 
superhuman difficulties, for the maintenance of his colony 
and the extension of the Catholic faith, the object 
to which his life was now devoted. Perceiving the 
insecurity of the garrisons at a distance from each 
other, and the principal post, he wisely concluded 
to preserve his force entire for St. Augustine, and thus 
maintain the colony and a base of operations. The 
spread of the Catholic faith he determined to secure 
by inducing the different tribes of Indians to receive and 
support one or more missionaries or teachers. At the 



Ponce de Leon Land. 73 

earnest solicitation of Menendez large numbers of priests, 
friars and brothers of the various religious orders of the 
Catholic Church had been sent to Florida by the king of 
Spain. Mission houses were built all over the country, 
from the Florida capes on the south to the Chesapeake on 
the north, and the ^Mississippi on the west, to which these 
teachers, being mostly Franciscans, were sent. By the 
mildness of their manners, the promise of future joys and 
rewards which their teachings declared, and the interest 
excited by the introduction of the arts of civilized life, 
they gained a powerful ascendency over the native tribes, 
that promised at one period the conversion of the whole 
North American Indian race to the religion and customs 
of their Christian teachers. This would have amply com- 
pensated for all the efforts, treasures and lives expended 
by the Europeans in the conquest of the New World ; in 
fact, it would have been a wonderful revolution, that 
might well have been considered a miraculous dispensa- 
tion of Providence. 

It is due to the grand, comprehensive conception of 
Menendez that there was initiated this plan of mission 
stations through the Floridas, which so nearly accom- 
plished this happy result. That the ultimate success of 
the efibrts to Christianize the Indians was not attained 
was probably owing to the political changes that occurred 
in Europe in the eighteenth century. In both France 
and Spain the Jesuits fell into disgrace, and the most rig- 
orous means of suppression and banishment were adopted 
against them. The Jesuit mission in Florida shared the 
fate of their order in the Old World, and thus the encour- 
aging prospect of Christianizing the Indians was swept 
away forever. 

Under Menendez and his immediate successors, whom 
he named and who followed his counsels, were founded 
those missionary establishments whose ruins have been at 
a later period a subject of curious investigation through 
Middle Florida. Menendez, finding that the interests of the 
colony were neglected at the Spanish court, and that the 
maintenance of the colony was daily impoverishing him- 
self, resolved to return permanently to Spain, where he 
hoped that his influence would be able to accomplish 



74 Ponce de Leon Land. 

more benefit to the UDdertaking in Florida than could be 
expected to accrue from his presence in the territory. 
Leaving the province under the command of his nephew, 
Don Pedro Menendez, he sailed for Spain in 1572. Upon 
his arrival all the honors of the court were lavished upon 
him, and his counsels were eagerly sought in the various 
affairs of state. He was not destined to enjoy his honors 
long, nor to reap new laurels in the European wars of the 
Spanish crown. In the midst of his glory his career was 
suddenly ended by his death from fever in 1574. His 
rank and memory are perpetuated in the Church of St. 
Nicholas at Orbilas by a monument, on which is inscribed 
the following epitaph : 

" Here lies buried the illustrious Captain Pedro Menendez 
de Aviles, a native of this city, Adelantado of the Province of 
Florida, Knight Commander of Santa Cruz, of the Order of 
Santiago, and Captain General of the Oceanic seas, and. of 
the Armada which his Royal Highness collected at Santander, 
in the year 157 Jf, where he died on the 17th of September of 
that year, in the fifty-fifth year of his age.'' 

Following out the instructions of Menendez, De las 
Alas, the new governor of Florida, assembled a council 
from the different missions in the province for the pur- 
pose of considering methods of extending the Catholic 
faith. In pursuance of the advice of this council, embas- 
sies were sent to all the tribes of Indians for several hun- 
dred miles around St. Augustine. 

Spanish garrisons and many Spanish monks to teach 
the Indians had already been received into the towns 
east of the Apalachicola river. In 1583 the Chickasaws, 
Tocoposcas, Apacas, Tamaicas, Apiscas and Alabamas re- 
ceived the missionaries. At this period the Catholic faith 
was recognized as far west as the Mississippi and as far 
north as the mountains of Georgia. 

The I^'ranciscans and Dominicans had been the first 
to represent the monks in the New World. Afterwards 
came the Fathers of Mercy, the Augustinians and the 
Jesuits. Although Florida was included in the diocese 
of the Bishop of Cuba, it was decided to establish a con- 
vent of the Order of St. Francis at St. Augustine. I find 
the name originally given to this convent was the " Con- 



Ponce de Leon Land. 75 

■ception of Our Lady," though it is generally referred to 
as St. Helena. 

This name, St. Helena, was applied to all the 
establishments throughout the province, of which the 
great Franciscan house at St. Augustine was to be the 
center. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



Attack of Sir Francis Drake on St. Augustine, 
8th of May, 1586, Capturing £2,000 Sterling. 

NINE years had elapsed from the death of Menendez, the 
colony at St. Augustine had slowly progressed into 
the settlement of a small town, but the importance 
which the presence of Menendez had given it was much 
lessened. In 1586, Sir Francis Drake, with a fleet return- 
ing from South America, discovered the Spanish lookout 
upon Anastasia Island and sent boats ashore to ascertain 
something in reference to it. Marching up the shore they 
discovered across the bay a fort and a town built of wood. 
Proceeding towards the fort, which bore the name of 
San Juan de Pinos, some guns were tired upon them 
from it; they retired towards their vessel. The same 
evening a fifer made his appearance and informed them 
that he was a Frenchman, detained a prisoner there, and 
that the Spaniards had abandoned their fort; he offered 
to conduct them over. Upon this information they 
crossed the river and found the fort abandoned, as 
they had been informed, and took possession of it 
without opposition. It was built of wood, and only sur- 
rounded by a wall, or pale, formed of the trunks of large 
trees set upright in the earth. The platforms were made 
of the bodies of large trees laid horizontally across each 
other, with earth rammed in to fill the vacancies ; fourteen 



76 Ponce de Leon Land. 

brass cannon Avere found in the fort. There was left behind 
the treasure-chest, containing £2,000 sterling, designed for 
the payment of the troops in the garrison, which consisted 
of one hundred and fifty men. On the following day 
Drake's forces marched towards the town, but owing ta 
heavy rains, they were obliged to return and go in boats. 
On their approach the Spaniards fled into the country. A 
Spaniard concealed in the bush fired at the sergeant-major 
and wounded him, and then ran up and dispatched him. 
In revenge for this act, Drake burnt their buildings and 
destroyed their gardens. Tlie garrison and inhabitants 
retired to Fort San Mateo, on the St. Johns river. 



CHAPTER XX. 



Establishment of Missions — Massacre of the Mis- 
sionaries BY the Indians. 

THE garrison and country were under the command 
of Don Pedro Menendez, a nephew of the Adelantado,. 
who, after the English squadron sailed, having re- 
ceived assistance from Havana, began to rebuild the city. 
In 1592 twelve Franciscan missionaries arrived at St. 
Augustine with their Superior, Fray Jean de Silva, and 
placed themselves under the charge of Father Francis 
Manon, warden of the convent of St. Helena. One of 
them, a Mexican, Father Francis Panja, drew up, in the 
language of the Yemasees, his "Abridgement of Christian 
Doctrine," the first work compiled in our Indian lan- 
guages. 

The Franciscan Father, Corpa, established a mission 
house for the Indians at Tolomato, in the northwest portion 
of the city of St. Augustine, where there was an Indian 
village. Father Bias de Rodriguez, called Montes, had 
an Indian church at a village of the Indians called Topi- 



Ponce de Leon Land. 77 

qui, situated ou the creek called Conodo la Leclic, north 
of the fort, and a church bearing the name of "Our Lady 
of the Milk" was situated on the elevated ground a (quarter 
of a mile north of the fort, near the creek. A stone 
ohurch existed at this locality as late as 1795, and the 
orucifix belonging to it was preserved in the Catholic 
church at St. Augustine. 

These missions proceeded with considerable apparent 
success, large numbers of Indians being received and in- 
structed both at this and other missions. 

Among the converts at the mission of Tolomato was 
the son of the cacique of the Island of Guale. Wearvino- of 
the restranits on his passions required by the Christian 
law, he fell into great excesses, and at last went off to a 
pagan band. Finding kindred spirits there, he resolved 
to silence the priest who had reproved him. They re- 
turned by night to Father Capa's village of Talomato. 
Taking up his post near the church, he waited for the 
dawn of day. When Father Carpa opened the door of 
his little cabin to proceed to the church, the conspirators 
tomahawked him, and cutting otf his head, set it on a 
pole. Having brought his comrades to imbrew their 
hands in blood, the young chief easily persuaded them 
to kill all the religious Spaniards. 

Proceeding then to the town Topicjui, they burst into 
the house of Father Bias Rodriguez. The missionary en- 
deavored to show them the wickedness and folly of their 
conduct, which would entail punislnnent here and here- 
after; but finding his words of no avail, he asked the 
Indians to allow him to say mass. They granted his re- 
quest, moved by a respect which they could not understand. 
The good priest, with his expectant murderers for his 
congregation, ofiered the holy sacrifice for the last time, 
and then knelt down before his altar to receive the death- 
blow, which enabled liim to make his thanksgiving to 
heaven. His body was piously interred by an old Chris- 
tian Indian after the murderers had departed. 

Learning of the approach of a band bent on massa- 
cre, Father Michael Ilanon at Assopo. said mass and gave 
communion to Brother Anthony Badajo/.. his com|)anion. 
They knelt in i)rayer till the apostates came, who first 



78 Ponce de Leon Land. 

dispatched the brother, then with two blows of their war- 
club crowned Father Michael wnth martyrdom. The 
weeping Christians interred the bodies at the foot of the 
tall mission cross. 

On reaching Asao the insurgents found that Father 
Francis de Velascola had gone to St. Augustine, but they 
lurked amid the vegetation on the shore till they saw his 
canoe approaching. When the Franciscan landed they 
accosted him as friends, they fearing his great strength^ 
seized him suddenly and slew him. Father Francis Da- 
vila, at Ospo, endeavored to escape at night, but the moon 
revealed him and he fell into their hands pierced by two 
arrows. An old Indian prevented their cruel work, and 
the missionary, stripped and suffering, was sent ashore to 
a pagan village. 

From thence the ferocious young chief of Guale led 
his followers against several missions in other parts of the 
country, which he attacked and destroyed, together with 
the attendant clergy. Thus upon the soil of the Ancient 
City was shed the blood of Christian martyrs, who were 
laboring with zeal well worthy emulation, to carry the 
truths of religion to the native tribes of Florida. Over 
two hundred and eighty years have passed away since 
these sad scenes were enacted ; but we cannot even now 
repress a tear of sympathy and a feeling of admiration for 
those self-denying missionaries of the cross, who sealed 
their faith with their blood and fell victims to their en- 
ergy and devotion. The spectacle of the dying priest 
struck down at the altar, attired in his sacred vestments, 
and imploring pardon upon his murderers, cannot fail to 
call up in the heart of the most insensible something 
more than a passing emotion. 

The zeal of the Franciscans was only increased by 
this disaster, and each succeeding year brought an addi- 
tion to their number. They posted their missions 
in the interior of the countrj^ so rapidly that in 
less than two years they had established through the 
principal towns of the Indians no less than twenty mis- 
sion houses. 

On the 14th of March, 1599, the convent of St. 
Francisco, at St. Augustine, was destroyed by fire, and 



Po^X'K DE Leon Land. 79 

till the building could be restored the fathers occupied the 
hermitage of Nuesta dc la SoJedad. which had previously 
been used as a hospital. It was several years before it 
was rebuilt. 

In 1611 the prelate, St. Francisco Marrose, custodio 
from the convent of St. Francisco of the Havana, together 
with the St. Helena Fr. Miguel de Annon and Fr. Pedro 
de Nocas, fell martyrs by the hands of the Indians, who 
are said to have pillaged the town after having driven the 
inhabitants to seek protection under the guns of the fort 
or stockade. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



Capture of the ArALACHiAN Indians — Their Work 
ON THE Defences of St. Augustine — Progress of 
the Colony. 

IN 1638 the Apalachian Indians were captured by the 
Spaniards. They were subdued by the force I sent 
against them. In 1640 large numbers of them were 
brought to St. Augustine to work on the fort and other 
public works. At this period the English settlements 
along the coast to the northward had began to be formed, 
much to the uneasiness and displeasure of the Spanish 
Crown, which for a long time claimed, by virtue of ex- 
ploration and occupation, as well as by the ancient papal 
grant of Alexander, all of the eastern coast of the county. 
Their missionaries had penetrated Virginia before 
the settlement of Jamestown. They built a fort in South 
Carolina and kept up a garrison for several years; but the 
Spanisji government had become too feeble to compete 
with either the English or French on the seas. With the 
loss of their celebrated armada perished forever their pre- 
tensions as a naval power. They were forced to look to 



80 Ponce de Leon Land. 

the safety of their settlement in Florida. The easy cap- 
ture of the fort at St. Augustine by the passing squadron 
of Drake evinced the necessity of works of a much more 
formidable character. 



CHAPTER XXIL 



Captain Davis' Attack on the City — The Commence- 
ment OF the Sea Wall. 

IN IGGo Captain Davis, one of tlie English l)uccaiieers, 
and a fleet of eight vessels came on the coast from 
Jamaica, to intercept the Spanish plate fleet on its 
return from New Spain to Europe ; but being disappointed 
in this scheme, he proceeded along the coast of Florida 
and came off St. Augustine, where he landed and 
marched directly upon the town, which lie sacked and 
plundered without meeting opposition from the Spaniards 
although they had a garrison of two hundred men in the 
fort, which at that time was an octagon, fortified and de- 
fended by round towers. 

The fortifications were probabl}' very incomplete, 
and with a vastly inferior force it is not surprising that 
they did not undertake what could only have been an 
ineffectual resistance. It does not appear that the fort 
was taken ; the inhabitants probably retired within the 
fort with their valuables. 

h\ 1()87 Captain Don Juan de Ayala went to Spain 
in his own vessel to })rocure additional forces and muni- 
tions for the garrison at St. Augustine. He received the 
men and munitions desired, and as a reward for his dili- 
gence and patriotism he also received the privilege of car- 
rying merchandise duty free ; being also allowed to take 
twelve Spanish negroes for the cultivation of the fields of 
Florida, of whom it is said there was a great want in that 



Ponce de Leon Land. 81 

province. By a mischance he was only able to carry one 
negro there with the troops and other cargo. He was 
received with universal joy. 

Don Diego de Quiroga y Vosado, the governor of 
Florida in 1690, finding that the sea was making danger- 
ous encroachments upon the shores of the town, and 
reached even the houses, threatening to swallow them up 
and render useless tlie fort which had cost so much mon- 
ey and labor to put in the state of completion in which it 
then was, called a public meeting of the chief men aiMl 
citizens of the ])lace and })roposed to them, in order to 
escape the danger wliich menanced them and to restrain 
the force of the sea, they should construct a sea wall 
which should run from the castle and protect the city 
from all the danger of the sea. The inhabitants not only 
approved of his proposal, but began the work with so 
much zeal that the soldiers gave more than seventeen 
hundred dollars of their wages, although they were very 
much behind, not liaving been j^aid in six years, with 
which the governor began to make the necessary prepa- 
rations, and sent forward a dispatch to the home govern- 
ment upon the subject. 

The Council of War of the Indies approved in the fol- 
lowing year of the works of the sea wall, and directed the 
viceroy of New Spain to furnish ten thousand dollars for 
it, and directed that a plan and estimate of the work should 
be forwarded. Quiroga was succeeded in the governorshi|) 
of Florida by Don Lauseano de Torres, who went forward 
with the work of the sea wall. He received for this })ur- 
pose the means furnished by the soldiers and one thou- 
sand dollars more, which they offered l)esides the two 
thousand dollars, and likewise .six thousand dollars which 
had come from New Spain i-emitted by the viceroy, 
Count de Galleo, for the purpose of building a tower for a 
lookout to observe the surrounding Indian settlements. 
The tower erected on the northeast l)astion of the fort is 
evidently the one built for the lookout, .sea and landward 
also. 



<)b 



82 Ponce de Leon Land. 

CHAPTER XXril. 
Governor Moore's Attack on St. Augustine, 1702. 

HOSTILITIES had broken out between England and 
Spain in 1702. The Enghsh settlements in Caro- 
lina only numbered about seven thousand inhabi- 
tants, when Governor Moore, who was an ambitious and 
energetic man, but with serious defects of character, led 
an invading force from Carolina against St. Augustine. 
The pretense was to retaliate for injuries, and, by taking 
the initiative, to prevent an attack upon themselves. The 
real motive was said by Governor Moore's opponents at 
home to have been the acquisition of military reputation 
and private gain. 

The plan of the expedition embraced a combined at- 
tack by land and sea. For this purpose six hundred pro- 
vincial militia were embodied with an equal number of 
Indian allies. A portion of the military were to go in- 
land by boats and by land under the command of Colonel 
Daniels, who is spoken of as a good officer, while the 
main body proceeded with the Governor by sea in several 
merchant schooners and ships impressed for the service. 
The Spaniards, who had received intimation of the con- 
templated attack, placed themselves in the best posture of 
defence in their power, and laid up provisions in the cas- 
tle to withstand a long siege. 

The forces under Colonel Daniels arrived in advance 
of the naval fleet of the expedition and immediately 
moved upon the town. The inhabitants, upon his ap- 
proach, retired within the spacious walls of the castle. 
Colonel Daniels entered and took possession of the town, 
the larger part of which, it must be recollected, was a short 
distance from the castle. 

The description given by Oldmixon is as follows : 

" Colonel Robert Daniels, a brave man, commanded a 
party who were to go up the river in periaguas, to come 
upon St. Augustine on the land side, while the governor 
sailed thither to attack it by sea. They both set out in 
August, 1702. Colonel Daniels, on his way, took St.. 
Johns, a small Spanish settlement; also St. Marys, another 



Ponce de Leon Land. 83 

little village belonging to the Spaniards ; after which he 
proceeded to St. Augustine. He came before the town, 
entered and took possession, Governor Moore not having 
arrived with the fleet. 

" The inhabitants having notice of the approach of 
the English had packed up their best effects and retired 
with them into tlie castle, which was snrrounded by a 
deep and broad moat. They had laid up provisions tliere 
for four months, and resolved to defend themselves to the 
last extremity. However, Colonel Daniels found a con- 
siderable booty in the town. The next day the governor 
came ashore, his troops following him ; they entrenched 
and posted their guards in the church and blocked up the 
castle. The English held possession of the town a whole 
month ; but finding they could do nothing, for want of 
mortars and bombs, they sent a sloop to Jamaica to pro- 
cure them, but the commander of the sloop, instead of 
going thither, came to Carolina, out of fear of treachery. 
Finding others who offered to go in his stead, he proceeded 
on the voyage, after he had lain some time at Charles- 
town. 

"The garrison all this wliile lay before the castle of 
Augustine in the expectation of the return of the sloop, 
which, hearing nothing of, the governor sent Colonel 
Daniels, who was the life of the action, to Jamaica on the 
same errand. This gentleman, being hearty in the de- 
sign, procured a supply of bombs and returned towards 
Augustine ; but, in the meantime, two ships appeared in 
the offing, and being taken to be two very large men-of- 
war, the Governor thought fit to raise the siege and aban- 
don his ships, with a great quantity of stores, ammuni- 
tion and provisions to the enemy; upon which the two 
men-of-war entered the port of Augustine and took the 
governor's ships. Some say he burnt them himself (cer- 
tain it is they were lost to the English,) and that he re- 
turned to Charlestown overland, three hundred miles 
from Augustine. The two men-of-war that were thought 
so large proved to be two small frigates — one of eighty- 
two and the other of sixteen guns. 

" When Colonel Daniels came back to St. Augustin6 
he was chased, but got away, and Governor Moore re- 



84 Ponce de Leon Land. 

treated with no great honor homewards. His periaguas 
lay at St. Johns, where the governor retired, and from 
there to Charlestown, only losing two men on the whole 
expedition. 

"Arratomakaw, king of the Yamiaseans, who com- 
manded the Indians, retreated to the periaguas with the 
rest and thero slept upon their oars with a great deal of 
bravery and unconcern. The governor's sailors taking a 
false alarm and thinking the Spaniards were coming, did 
not like the slow pace'of the Indian king in his flight; 
to (juicken him bade him to make more haste, but he re- 
plied: 'No, if your governor leaves you, I will not stir 
until I have seen all my men before me.' " 

The Spanish accounts say he burned the town; this 
statement is confirmed by the report made on the 18th of 
July, 1740, by a committee of the House of Commons of 
the province of South Carolina, in which it is said, refer- 
ring to these transactions, that Moore was obliged to re- 
treat, but not without first burning the town. 

It seems that the plunder carried off by Moore's 
troops was considerable ; his enemies charged at the time 
that he sent off a sloop-load to Jamaica. In an old 
colonial document of South Carolina it is represented "that 
the late unfortuned, ill-contrived and worst managed ex- 
pedition against St. Augustine was principally set on foot 
by the late governor and his adherents, and that if any 
person in the said late Assembly undertook to speak 
against it and to show how unfit and unable we were at 
that time for such an attempt, he was presently looked 
upon by them as an enemy and traitor to his country, 
and reviled and affronted in the said Assembly; although 
the true design of the said expedition was no other than 
catching and making slaves of the Indians for private 
advantage and impoverishing the country. * * * 
The expedition was evidently to enrich themselves par- 
ticularly, because whatsoever booty, such as rich silks, a 
great ([uantity of church plate, with money and other 
costly church ornaments and utensils, taken by our 
soldiers at St. Augustine, are now detained in the posses- 
sion of the said late governor and his officers, contrary to 
an act of the A ssembly made for an equal division of the 
same amongst the soldiers." 



Ponce de Leon Land. 85 

The Spanish accounts of this expedition of Moore's 
are very meager; tliey designated him as the governor 
of St. George, by which name they called the liarbor of 
Charleston, and they also speak of the plunder of the 
town and the burning of the greater part of the houses. 
Don Joseph Curriga was tlien the governor of the city, 
and had received just previous to the English attack re- 
inforcements from Havana, and had repaired and strength- 
ened the fortifications to a considerable extent. 

The retreat of the English was celebrated with great 
rejoicing by the Spaniards, who iiad been for three montlis 
shut up within the limited space of the walls of the castle, 
and they gladly repaired their ruined homes, and made 
good the ravages of tlie English invasion. An English 
account says that the two vessels which appeared off the 
bar and caused Moore's precipitate retreat contained but 
two hundred men, and had he awaited Colonel Daniels' 
return with the siege guns and ammunition, the castle 
would have fallen into tlieir hands. 

In the same year the King of Spain, alarmed at the 
danger which menaced his possessions in Florida, gave 
greater attention to the strengthening of the defences of 
St. Augustine, and forwarded considerable reinforcements 
to the garrison as well as additional supplies of munitions 
for the troops. 

The works were directed to be strengthened, which 
Governor Curriga thought not as strong as had been rep- 
resented, and that the sea wall in the course of erection 
was insufficient for the purpose for which it was designed. 
Sixty years had elapsed since the Apalachian Indians had 
been conquered and compelled to labor upon the fortifi- 
cations of St. Augustine. Their chiefs now asked that 
they might be relieved from further compulsory labor. 
After the usual number of references and reports and in- 
formations through the Spanish circumlocution offices 
this was graciously granted in a compulsory form, until 
their services should be again required. 

During the year 1712 a great scarcity of provisions, 
caused by the failure of the usual supply vessels, reduced 
the inhabitants of St. Augustine to the verge of starvation, 
and for two or three months they were obliged to live upon 



86 Ponce de Leon Land. 

horses, cats, dogs and other disgusting animals. It seems 
strange that, after a settlement of nearly one hundred and 
fifty years, the Spaniards in Florida should still be depen- 
dent upon the importation of provisions for their support, 
and that anything like the distress indicated should pre- 
vail, with the abundant resources they had from the fish, 
oysters, turtle and clams of the sea, and the arrowroot and 
cabbage-tree palm of the land. 

The English settlements were now extending into 
the interior portions of South Carolina. The French had 
renewed their efforts at settlement and colonization up 
the rivers discharging into the Gulf of Mexico. All three 
nations were competitors for the trade with the Indians, 
and kept up an intriguing rivalship for this trade for 
more than a hundred years. 

There seems to have been at this period a policy 
pursued by the Spanish authorities in Florida of the most 
reprehensible character. The strongest efforts were made 
to attach all the Indian tribes to the Spanish interests. 
Tliey were encouraged to carry on a system of plunder 
and annoyance upon the English settlements of Carolina. 
They seized upon all the negroes they could obtain and 
carried them to the Governor at St. Augustine, who inva- 
riably refused to surrender them, alleging that he was 
acting under the instructions of his government in so 
doing. 

In 1704, Governor Moore made a sweeping and vigor- 
ous incursion against the Indian towns in Middle Florida, 
all of whom were in the Spanish interests. He broke up 
the towns and destroved the missions attached to them. 



Ponce de Leon Land. 87 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

Colonel Palmer's Invasion of Florida. 

IN 1725, Colonel Palmer determined, since no satisfac- 
tion could be obtained for the incursions of the Span- 
iards and Indians, and the loss of their slaves, to make 
a descent upon them. With a party of three hundred 
men, he entered Florida with the intention of visiting 
upon the province all the desolation of retributive warfare. 
He went to the very gates of St. Augustine, and com- 
pelled the inhabitants to seek protection within the casfle. 
In his course he swept everything before him, destroying 
every house, field and improvement within his reach, carry- 
ing off the live stock, and everything else of value. The 
Spanish Indians who fell within his power were slain in 
large numbers; many were taken prisoners. Outside of 
the walls of St. Augustine nothing was left undestroyed. 
The Spanish authorities received a memorable lesson in 
the law of retribution. 



CHAPTER XXV. 



Oglethorpe's Attack on St. Augustine, and Siege of 
Fort San Marco. 

ENGLAND claimed and occupied the country up to 
the margin of the St. Johns, and established a post 
at St. George Island. This was deemed an invasion 
of their territory by the Spaniards. The post was attacked, 
unfairly, the English say, and some of their men mur- 
dered. Oglethorpe, upon this, " acting under the instruc- 
tions of the home government," commenced hostilities by 
arranging a joint attack of the forces of South Carolina 
and Georgia, with a view to the entire conquest of Florida. 
The instructions of the King of England to Ogle- 
thorpe were that he should make a naval and land attack 
upon St. Augustine. "If it shall please God to give you 



88 Ponce de Leon Land. 

sucpess, you are either to demolish the fort or bastions, or 
put a garrison in it, in case you shall have men enough 
for that purpose, which last, it is thought will be the best 
to prevent the Spaniards from endeavoring to retake and 
settle the said place at any time hereafter." 

Don Manuel Monteano was then Governor of Florida^ 
and in command of the garrison. The city and castle 
were previously in a poor condition to withstand an at- 
tack from a well prepared foe. On the 11th of November, 
1737, Governor Monteano writes to the Governor General 
of Cuba that ''the fort at this place is its only de- 
fence; it has no casemates for the shelter of the men, nor 
the necessary elevation to the counter scarp, nor covert 
ways nor ravelins to the curtains, nor other exterior 
works that could give time for a long defence. It is thus 
marked outside, and it is without soul within, for there 
are no cannon that could be fired twenty-four hours, and 
though there were, artillery men are wanting to manage 
the guns." Under the superintendence of an able officer 
of engineers the works were put in order; the ramparts 
were heightened and casemated, a covered way was made 
by planting and embanking four thousand stakes. Bomb 
proof vaults were constructed and entrench tpaents thrown 
up around the town protected by ten salient angles, many 
of which are still visible. The garrison of the town was 
about seven hundred and forty soldiers, according to 
Governor Monteano's return of troops on the 25th of 
March, 1740; the total population of St. Augustine of all 
classes was two thousand one hundred and forty-three. 

Previous to his attack upon the place General Ogle- 
thorpe obtained the following information from prisoners 
whom he took at the outposts: "They agree that there 
are fifty pieces of cannon in the castle at St. Augustine, 
several of which are brass from twelve to forty-eight 
pounds caliber; it has four bastions. The walls are of stone 
and casemated. The square is nearly fifty yards. The 
ditch is forty feet wide and twelve feet deep, six of which 
is sometimes filled with water. The counter scarp is faced 
with stone. They have lately made a covered way. The 
town is fortified with an entrenchment, salient angles and 
redoubts, which inclose about half a mile in length and a 



Ponce de Leon Land. 89 

quarter of a mile in width. The inhabitants and gar- 
rison, men, women and children, amount to above two 
thousand five hundred. For the garrison the King pays 
eight companies sent from Spain two years since, for the 
invasion of Georgia. The companies numbered fifty -three 
men each, three companies of foot and one of artillery of 
the old garrison, and one troop of horse, one hundred 
men. Of these one hundred are at St. Marks, ten days' 
march from St. Augustine upon the Gulf of Mexico, 
One hundred are disposed in several small forts." 

Of these outposts there were two, one on each side of 
the St. Johns, opposite each other; one at Picolata, the 
other at Diego. The purpose of the fort at Picolata was 
to guard the passage of the river and to keep open com- 
munication with St. Marks and Pensacola when they 
were threatened with invasion by Oglethorpe. Messengers 
were dispatched to the Governor of Pensacola for aid, also 
to Mexico by the same route. The fort at Diego was but 
a small work, erected by Don Diego de Spinosa upon his 
own estate. The remains of it, with one or two cannon, 
are still visible. Fort Moosa was an outpost at the place 
now known as North river, about two miles north of St. 
Augustine; a fortified line, a considerable portion of 
which may now be traced, extending across from the 
stockades on the St. Sebastian to Fort Moosa, w4th com- 
munication by a tide creek extending through the 
marshes between the castle at St. Augustine and Fort 
Moosa. 

Oglethorpe first attacked the two forts at Picolata, 
one of which was called Fort Poppa or St. Francis de 
Poppa. It was a place of some strength. Its remains 
still exist about one-fourth of a mile north of the termi- 
nation of the Bellamy road. It is an earthwork and is 
still easily traced. 

After a slight resistance both forts fell into Ogle- 
thorpe's hands, much to the annoyance of Governor Mon- 
teano. Oglethorpe speaks of "Fort Francis as being a 
work of much importance." It commanded the passes 
from St. Augustine to Mexico, also to the country of the 
Creek Indians, also being near the ferry where the troops 
which came from St. Augustine must pass. He found in 



90 Ponce de Leon Land. 

it one mortar to carriage, three small guns and ammu- 
nition; also one hundred and fifty shell and fifty glass 
bottles full of gunpowder with fuzes; a somewhat novel 
missile of war. 

The English general's plan of operation was that the 
crews and troops upon the vessels should land and throw 
up batteries upon St. Anastasia Island, thence bombard- 
ing the town, while he himself designed to lead the attack 
on the land side. Having arrived in position he gave 
the signal to attack to the fleet by sending up a rocket; 
but no response came from the vessels. He had the 
mortification of being obliged to withdraw his troops. 
The troops were not able to effisct a landing from the 
vessels in consequence of a number of armed Spanish 
galleys having been drawn up inside the bar, so that no 
landing could be made except under a severe fire, while 
the galleys were protected from an attack by the ships in 
consequence of the shoal water. 

He then prepared to reduce the town by regular 
siege, with a strict blockade by sea. He hoped by driving 
the inhabitants into the castle to encumber the Governor 
with useless mouths; to reduce him to the necessity of a 
surrender to avoid starvation. The town was placed 
under the range of his heavy artillery and mortars, and 
soon became untenable, forcing the citizens generally to 
seek the shelter of the fort. 

Colonel Vanderduysen was posted at Point Quartel 
and other troops upon Anastasia Island and the North 
Beach. Three batteries were erected, one on Anastasia 
Island, called the Poza, which consisted of four eighteen 
pounders and onr nine pounder ; one on the point of the 
woods of the island mounting two eighteen pounders. 
The remains of the Poza battery are still to be seen almost 
as distinctly marked as on the day of its erection. Four 
mortars and forty cohorns were employed in the siege. 

The siege began on the 12th of June. On the night 
of the 25th a sortie was made from the castle against a 
portion of the troops under command of Colonel Palmer, 
who was encamped at Fort Moosa, including a company 
of Scotch Highlanders, numbering eighty-five men, under 
their chief, Captain Mcintosh, all equipped in Highland 



Ponce de Leon Land. 91 

dress. This attack was entirely successful; the English 
sustained a severe loss, their colonel being killed, with 
twenty higlilanders, twenty-seven soldiers and a number 
of Indians. 

This affair at Fort Moosa has generally been con- 
sidered as a surprise, and its disastrous result the conse- 
quence of cerelessness and disobedience of the orders of 
Oglethorpe. Captain Mcintosh, the leader of the High- 
landers, was taken prisoner and finally transferred to 
Spain. From his prison, St. Sebastian, under date of 
June 20th, 1741, he gives the following account of the 
matter: "I listed seventy men, all in Highland dress, and 
marched to the siege, and was ordered to scout nigh St. 
Augustine and molest the enemy while the general and 
the rest of his little army went to an island where we 
could have no succor of them. I punctually obeyed my 
orders until seven hundred Spaniards sallied out from 
the garrison an hour before daylight. They did not sur- 
prise us, for we were all under arms ready to receive 
them, which we did, briskly keeping up a constant firing 
for a quarter of an hour. When they pressed on with 
numbers, we were obliged to take our swords until the 
most of us were shot and cut to pieces. You are to 
observe we had but eighty men, and the engagement was 
in view of the rest of our army, but they could not come 
to our assistance by being on the island under the enemy's 
guns. They had twenty prisoners, a few got oft", the rest 
were killed; we were informed by some of themselves 
they had three hundred killed on the spot; besides several 
wounded. We were stripped naked of clothes and 
brought to St. Augustine, where we remained three 
months in close confinement." 

This officer was Captain John Mcintosh, and his 
son, Brigadier General Mcintosh, then a youth of fourteen, 
was present in the engagement and escaped without in- 
jury. The family of Mcintosh have always been con- 
spicuous in the history of Georgia. 

The large number of persons collected within the 
walls of the castle, under tlie protection of its battlements, 
soon gave rise to serious apprehensions on the part of the 
besieged of being reduced by starvation to the necessity 



92 Ponce de Leon Land. 

of a speedy surrender. The batteries of Oglethorpe were 
planted at so great a distance that he could produce but 
little effect by shot or shell upon the castle, although he 
rendered the city itself untenable. The heat of the season 
and the exposure to which the provincial militia were 
unaccustomed soon produced considerable sickness and 
discouragement in the invading forces, and affected Ogle- 
thorpe himself. 

The Spanish Governor sent most urgent messages to 
the Governor of the Island of Cuba, which were trans- 
mitted by runners along the coast, and thence by small 
vessels across to Havana. In one of these letters he says : 
" My greatest anxiety is for provisions, and if they do not 
come there is no doubt of our dying of hunger." In 
another letter he says: ''1 assure your Lordship that it is 
impossible to express the confusion of the place, for we 
have no protection except the fort; all the rest is open 
field. The families have abandoned their houses and 
come to put themselves under the guns, which is pitable. 
If your Lordship, for want of competent force, cannot send 
relief, we must all perish." 

With the exception of the Fort Moosa affair, the hos- 
tilities were confined to the exchange of shots between the 
castle and the batteries. Considerable discrepancy exists 
between the Spanish and English accounts as to the 
period when the garrison was relieved; it was the com- 
munication of the fact of relief having been received 
which formed the ostensible ground for abandoning the 
siege by Oglethorpe, but the Spanish Governor asserts 
that these vessels with supplies did not arrive until the 
siege was raised. The real fact, I am inclined to think, 
is, tliat the vessels with supplies arrived at Matanzas 
Inlet, where they awaited orders from Governor Mon- 
teano as to the mode of getting discharged ; that the in- 
formation of the arrival, being known at St. Augustine, 
was communicated to the English, and thus induced their 
raising the siege. In fact, the hope of starving out the 
garrison was all that w'as left to Oglethorpe. His strength 
was insufficient for an assault, and his means inadequate 
to reduce the castle, which was well manned and well 
provided witli means of defence. 



Ponce de Leon Land. 93 

It was, ill truth, a hopeles.s task, under the circum- 
stances, for Oglethorpe to persevere, and it is no impeach- 
ment of his courage or his generalship that he was unable 
to take a fortress of very respectable strength. 

The siege continued from the 13th of June to the 
20th of July, a period of thirty -eight day.s. The bom- 
bardment was kept up twenty days, but owing to the 
lightness of the guns and the long range, little effect was 
produced on the strong walls of the castle.' Its spongy, 
infrangible walls received the l^alls from tlie batteries like 
cotton bales or a sand battery — almost without making 
any impression. This may be seen on examination, siftce 
the marks remain to this day. in places wliere the walls 
have not been repaired. 

The prosecution of the siege having become imprac- 
ticable, preparations were made for retiring. Oglethorpe 
as a pardoiia])le and characteristic protest against the as- 
sumption of liis acting from any coercion, with drums 
beating and banners displayed, crossed over to the main- 
land and marched in full view of the castle to his en- 
campment, three miles distant, situated at the point now 
known as Pass Navarro. 

Great credit and respect have been deservedly 
awarded to Governor Monteano for the courage, skill and 
perseverance with which he sustained the siege. 

It is well known that the English general had, in a 
few months, an ample opportuninity of showing to his 
opponent that his skill in defending his own territory 
under the most disadvantageous circumstances was equal 
to that of the accomplislicd Monteano himself. The de- 
fence of Frederica and signal defeat of tlie Spanish forces 
at Fort Simons will ever challenge for Oglethorpe the 
highest credit for the most sterHng (lualities of a good 
general and a great man. 

Two years subsequently Oglethorpe again advanced 
into Florida. He appeared before the gates of St. Aug- 
ustine and endeavored to induce the garrison to march 
out to meet him ; but they kept within their walls. Ogle- 
thorpe, in one of his dispatches, says in the irritation 
caused by their prudence, that they were so "meek there 
was no provoking them." As in this incursion he had 



94 Ponce de Leon Land. 

no object in view but a devastation of the country and 
harrassing the enemy, he shortly withdrew his forces. 

A committee of the South Carolina House of Com- 
mons, in a report upon the Oglethorpe expedition, thus 
speaks of St. Augustine, evidently smarting under the 
disappointment of their recent defeat: 

"July 1st, 1741, St. Augustine is in possession of 
the Crown of Spain, is well known to be situated but a 
little distance from hence, in latitude thirty degrees, in 
Florida, the next territory to us. It is maintained by his 
Catholic Majesty partly to preserve his claim to Florida, 
and partly that it may be of service to the plate fleet when 
coming through the Gulf by showing lights to them along 
the coast, and by being ready to give assistance when any 
of them are cast away. The castle, by the largest ac- 
count doth not cover more than one acre of ground, but 
it is allowed, on all hands, to be a place of great strength, 
and hath usually a garrison of three or four hundred men 
of the King's regular troops. The town is not very large, 
and but indifferently fortified. The inhabitants, many of 
whom are mulattoes, of a savage disposition, are all in the 
King's pay; also being registered from their birth, and a 
severe penalty laid on any masters of vessels that shall 
attempt to carry any of them off. These are formed into 
a militia, and have generally been computed to be 
about the same number as the regular troops. Thus re- 
lying wholly on the King's pay for their subsistence, 
their thoughts never turned to trade or agriculture, but 
depended on foreign supplies for the most common neces- 
saries of life, they spent their time in universal and per- 
petual idleness. From such a state mischievous incli- 
•nations naturally spring up in such a people, and having 
leisure and opportunity ever since they had a neighbor, 
the fruits of whose industry excited their desire and envy, 
they have not failed to carry those inclinations into action 
as often as they could, without the least regard to peace 
or war subsisting between the two Crowns of Spain and 
Great Britain, or to stipulations agreed upon between the 
two governments." 

Among the principal grievances set forth in this re- 
port was the carrying off and enticing and harboring 



Ponce de Leon Land. 95 

their slaves, of which a number of instances are enumer- 
ated. They attributed the negro insurrection, which oc- 
curred in South CaroHna in 1739, to the connivance and 
agency of the Spanish authorities at St. Augustine, and 
they proceeded in a cHmax of indignation to hurl their 
denunciations at the supposed authors of their misfortunes 
in the following terms: "With indignation we look at St. 
Augustine (like another Sallee), that den of thieves and 
ruffians, receptacle of debtors, servants and slaves, bane 
of industry and society, and revolved in our minds all 
the injuries this province had received from them ever 
since its first settlement. That they have, from first to last, 
in times of profoundest peace, both publicly and privately, 
by themselves, Indians and negroes, in every shape mo- 
lested us, not without some instances of uncommon 
cruelty." 

It is very certain that there was on each side enough 
supposed cause of provocation to induce far from an 
amiable state of feeling between these neighboring col- 
onies. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



History of the Inquisition— Ancient and Modern. 
Its Effect LTpon the Settlement of Florida. 

TO partially explain the cause of the action of Pedro 
Men( ndez, during his governorship of Florida, I find 
it important to go back to earlier history to find the 
motive for such action. To understand the situation, it is 
necessary to give a part of the history of the Inquisition — 
both ancient and modern. It is claimed by some that 
the inquisition originated from God, and that Adam and 
Eve were the first prisoners brought before that tribunal 
and furnished the model of the forms observed in the 
trials of the Holy Office. The sentence of Adam was the 
mark of the inquisitional reconciliation; his raiment, 



96 Ponce de Leon Land. 

the skins of animals, the model of the kSan-benito, his 
expulsion from paradise the precedent for the confiscation 
of their property. This precedent is claimed to have been 
carried down to Moses, Nebudchanezzer, King David, 
John the Baptist, and even our Saviour, in which they 
claim to have precepts and authority for the Holy Office. 

Acts of intolerance have been committed by all de- 
nominations of the christian faith since Christianity has 
been know^n, and always will be, without a doubt. The 
crusaders who swept so fiercely over the southern part of 
France in the thirteenth century, blasting the country 
and exterminating the people, first laid the foundation 
and erected the bloody altars of that tribunal. It would 
be unjust to say the Catholic church or clergy were re- 
sponsible for the actions of the Inquisition. It arose 
during the feudal age, when mankind was undergoing a 
transition from the barbarous to the civilized state, when 
a strong attempt was being made to establish a law that 
would give reasonable protection to all mankind. With 
what success, we can only tell by looking back at the 
history of the world, from that time to the present. It 
was at a period of the world's history wdien might ruled, 
instead of right; when the baser passions governed instead 
of the nobler ones; at a time when the greed of power, 
wealth, and rank, held almost unlimited sway over the 
world. There have l^een too many brave and noble men 
among the Spanish clergy to give them the blame of the 
modern inquisition; maii}^ of their own number fell 
under the ban of that fatal tribunal. When we look back 
over the history of Spain, we find too many brave and 
good men, to believe, for one moment, that it was know- 
ingly sanctioned by them ; that it was established for 
political purposes by designing men, I think all will ad- 
mit. That it ever received the sanction of the churcii, 
was through the action of a few, brilliant, but misguided, 
men, whose C'hristian principles were badly warped, and 
almost completely obliterated, by their greed of power, 
wealth and rank. 

When we look back over the bloody record of that 
fatal band, we wonder how it was possible for a people to 
submit to such an injustice. We can readilv understand 



Ponce de Leon Land. 97 

after reading the history of the Inquisition, and with the 
knowledge that Pedro Menendez was a member of the in- 
quisitional court, what was undoubtedly the cause of 
his action against the French Huguenots. He had been 
appointed Adelantado of Florida, with the full under- 
standing that he was to expel the French from the terri- 
tory claimed by Spain, which, at that time, extended 
from the Gulf to the Chesapeake, and westward to the Mis- 
sissippi. He evidently could not have furnished pro- 
visions for the two colonics, had he accepted the sur- 
render of the French. It is evident that it was through 
the knowledge of the difficulties tliat he was placed in, 
that he caused the massacre of the French after their ship- 
w^reck. He was strengthed in this course by the order of 
the Inquisitor General, as he was a member of the inquis-. 
itorial court, and received definite orders to banish or 
exterminate the French colonists, as they were deemed 
heretical at that time. In looking back, we can see the 
difficulties that Menendez labored under in the care of his 
colony, when threatened with starvation. He went to 
Cuba, before his supplies had become exhausted, and, 
upon his arrival, he found the governor of Mexico had 
arrived before him; there had been such a disparaging 
report made, by the men who had deserted his standard, 
that the needed supplies were refused him. It was under 
these adverse circumstances that the manhood of Menen- 
dez shone out bright and clear as gold. He pawned the 
jewels and the badge of his order and raised funds enough 
for the necesary supplies for his colony, and at once hast- 
ened back to his distressed people. I think there can be 
no question about the action of Menendez, in the position 
he was placed, with the Huguenots. 

After several modifications the detection of heretics 
was committed to the Dominican friars. In 1233, a code 
for the regulation of their pi-oceedings was formed and 
adopted in Germany and Italy, and introduced into Ara- 
gon in 1242, when additional provisions were established 
by the council of Tarragona, together with tliose of 1233, 
which were the primitive instructions for the tribunal in 
-Spain. 

7b 



98 Ponce de Leon Land. 

The ancient Inquisition bore the same peculiarities 
in its features as the modern ; the same secrecy in its pro- 
ceedings ; the insidious modes of accusation and use of 
torture and penalties for the offender. The manual 
drawn up by Eginerich, an Aragonese inquisitor of the 
fourteenth century, for the instruction of the judges of the 
tribunal, prescribed all those forms of interrogations by 
which the unwary, and perhaps the innocent, victims 
might be circumvented. The rules of the ancient were 
no less repugnant to justice than the modern, but were 
less extensive in their operations. The persecution fell 
very severely on the Albigenses of Aragon and Provence, 
who were the principal victims of that time. 

The Inquisition was not fully established in Castile 
until the reign of Isabella. It was certain that there was 
no lack of interest by St. Ferdinand who heaped the 
fagots on the burning pile with his own hand, and John 
II, Isabella's father, who hunted the Basques like so many 
wild beasts. 

By the middle of the fifteenth century the Albigensin 
heresy had been nearly exterminated by the Inquisition, 
when a new people came into prominence, that were 
frugal and industrious and had acquired wealth and 
power by their industry. The inquisitors saw^ at once 
what a chance there was to wring wealth out of these in- 
oflFensive people, and Spain can't but blame herself for 
her loss of power by the expulsion of the Jews and Mo- 
riscos. That Ferdinand should have listened to the 
counsel of such men as Alfonso de Ojido, Diego de Mere- 
las and Nicholas Francisco is surprising. That there was 
a deep-laid scheme by these men to confiscate most of the 
property owned by them, is evident. Ferdinand's inter- 
cession with Isabella caused her to sanction the confis- 
cation from her people. 

Isabella's serious temperament naturally disposed. 
her to religious influences, notwithstanding the independ- 
ence exhibited by her in all secular affairs. In her own 
spiritual concerns she evinced humility and deferred im- 
plicitly to what she deemed the superior sagacity of her 
instructor. An instance of this is worth recording. Fray 
Ferdinand de Talavera, archbishop of Grenada, w^as ap- 



Ponce de Leon Land. 99 

pointed confessor to the queen; he remained seated. Isa- 
bella remarked that "it was usual for both parties to 
kneel." "No," replied the priest, "this is God's tribunal; I 
act here as his minister, and I should keep my seat; your 
highness should kneel before me." Isabella complied at 
once, and afterwards said "this is the confessor I wanted." 

It would have been well for Spain if this office had 
been held by Talavera instead of being transferred to 
Thomas de Torquemada, a man who contained more 
pride, bigotry and intolerance in his heart than any man 
in Spain. His teaching went far to pervert the natural 
kindness of heart shown in most of Isabella's actions in 
life. 

It is due to Isabella's name, to say that it was through 
the influence of this man that she solicited from Sextus IV 
a bull for the introduction of the tribunal. It was 
through this intercession that he issued a bull November 
1st, 1478, authorizing the appointment of two or three 
inquisitors for the suppression of heresy throughout Spain. 

On the 2nd of January, 1481, the court commenced 
operations and published an edict requiring all persons 
to aid in apprehending all known, or suspected of heresy. 
Every mode of accusation was indicated, and the numbers 
increased so rapidly that it was difficult to find prisons 
for them. 

The inquisitors adopted the policy of the ancient tri- 
bunal, and proceeded with a despatch that could have 
paid little regard to legal form. Six convicts were burned 
on the 6th of January, seventeen in March ; no less than 
298 had been sacrificed in the auto de fe of Seville, (See 
page 252, Prescot, Vol. I, Inquisition), which was pre- 
pared on a stone pile, erected in the suburbs of the city, 
with four stakes attached to the corners to which the un- 
happy sufferers were bound for the sacrifice, and cele- 
brated as the place where heretics were burned, and ought 
to burn, as long as any could be found. 

Many of the persons convicted were persons esti- 
mable for learning and probity; and among these three 
priests are named, together with individuals filling judi- 
cial and high municipal stations. The sword of justice 
is observed particularly, to strike at the wealthy, the least 
L.ofC. 



100 Ponce de Leon Land. 

pardonable offenders in times of proscription; which is 
evident was the cause of their persecution. 

The plague which desolated Seville this year, sweep- 
ing off fifteen thousand inhabitants, as if in token of the 
wrath of Heaven at these enormities, did not paralyze the 
arm of that fatal tribunal. A similar persecution went 
forward in the province of Andalusia, in 1481 , two thou- 
sand were burned, and a large number in effigy, and 
17,000 reconciled. 

In 1483, Torquemada was appointed Inquisitor gen- 
eral with power to frame a new constitution for the In- 
quisition. This was the origin of the modern Inquisition, 
which, for three centuries, has extended its fatal sway 
over Spain and Portugal. When arrested they were cut 
off from all external communication. Counsel was al- 
lowed by the judges, but they were not allowed to confer 
together. If the prisoner did not confess his guilt, or at- 
tempted to conceal the truth, he was subjected to the 
torture. This was administered in the deep vaults of the 
Inquisition where the cries of the victim could be heard 
only by his tormentors. The most odious feature was the 
confiscation where all the expenses of the court had to be 
paid before the crown received one farthing. 

The last scene in this dismal tragedy was the auto 
de fe. The most important actors in this scene were the 
unfortunate convicts who were now disgorged for the first 
time from the dungeons of the tribunal. They were clad 
in coarse woolen garments, styled san benitos, brought 
close around the neck and descending to the knee. These 
were of a yellow color, embroidered with a scarlet cross, 
and well garnished with figures of devils and flames of 
fire, which were typical of the heretics, which served to 
make them more odious to the multitude. The greater 
part of the convicted, however, were reconciled. If the 
culprit acknowledged his guilt, his crime then bore the 
character of sin, and punishment was commuted to pen- 
ance. The culprit prays, fasts, and mortifies his body; 
instead of going to the place of execution, he recites pen- 
itential psalms, hears mass, duly examines the state of 
his conscience, becomes contrite, confesses his sins, and 
finally is restored to his family and to society. Those 



Ponce de Leon Land. 101 

who refused to recant were delivered over, as impenitent 
liereties, to the secular arm, in order to expiate their of- 
fense by the most painful death, with the consciousness 
still more painful, that they were to leave behind them 
names branded with infamy, and their families irretriev- 
ably ruined. That a man like Torquemada, who had 
been the author of such crimes, should have been allowed 
to live to an old age and die quietly in his bed, seems 
impossible in this age. It would strengthen the belief in 
the Divine Power, if this person had received a fair pro- 
portion of all the torture that he had inflicted on man- 
kind, before his death ; perhaps his constant apprehension 
of assassination was a small portion of his punishment. 
It is fortunate for mankind that the civil jurisdiction of 
Inquisition was practically abolished in 180.S. After 
looking over the history of the men that Pedro Meuendez 
was associated with, prior to his appointment as adelan- 
tado of Florida, it is not surprising that he massacred the 
French colonists. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

COMPLETIOX OF THE CaSTLE. 

DON ALONZO FERNANDEZ DE HERRERA was 
appointed governor of Florida in 1755, and com- 
pleted the exterior works and finished the castle. 
The fort and defences of St. Augustine were 191 
years in construction, and cost the Spanish Government 
over thirty millions of dollars. The castle has never been 
taken by a besieging enemy. It is a noble fortification, 
requiring one hundred cannon and one thousand men to. 
defend it. Since it came into the possession of the United 
States it has been strengthened by the water battery, which 
is a very formidable defence. The fort at St. Augustine was 
designated Fort Marion, in honor of the memory of P>rig- 
adier General Francis Marion of the Revolution, pursuant 



102 Ponce de Leon Land. 

to general order No. 1, Adjutant General's Office, January 
7th, 1825. . 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 
The History of Fort Marion. 

THE 29th of June, 1565, Pedro Menendez de Aviles 
sailed from Spain in the San Playo, with nineteen 
vessels, carrying fifteen hundred persons, including 
mechanics of all kinds, for the purpose of establishing a 
colony in Florida. Other vessels followed, under the 
command of Stephen de las Alas, with quite a number of 
colonists, several Franciscan fathers, and priests of other 
orders — twenty-six hundred and forty-six people embarked 
for Florida. Menendez expended a million ducats in fit- 
ting out his colony. 

He reached Porto Rico with only one-third of his 
fleet, they having been dispersed by a storm. There he 
learned that the French admiral had sailed before him 
and capturing a Spanish vessel in the West Indies thus 
opening hostilities. Menendez held a council of war and 
decided to proceed, and attack the French, who had 
planted a colony on the St. Johns. He reached the coast 
of Florida on the 28th of August — the feast of St. Augus- 
tine. The Te Deum was chanted with great solemnity. 
Menendez sailed up the coast in search of the French. 
Coming upon Ribaut's vessels at the mouth of the St. 
Johns, he announced his determination to put them all 
to death. No quarter at that time was shown to the 
Spaniards on sea or land by the French or English 
cruisers. Those who escaped from the wreck of the ar- 
mada on the coast of Ireland were all put to death with- 
out mercy by the English, unless they were rich enough 
to ransom their lives. Only a few years before Jacques 
Sarie, a French commander, had burned Havana and 
hung his prisoners amid the smoking ruins. The terms 



Ponce de Leon Land. 103 

:iinnounced by Menendez to the French were precisely 
those given to the Spaniards by the French and EngHsh. 

After an ineffectual pursuit of the French vCvSsels, 
^Menendez sailed down the coast to the harbor of St. Aug- 
ustine, where he had determined to plant his settlement. 
His resolution was to fortify his position there and hold 
out until the rest of his fleet arrived. 

Entering the harbor on the 6th of September, he 
sent three companies of soldiers ashore, under two cap- 
tains, who were to select a site and begin a fort. A cacique 
gave the new comers a large cabin near the seashore; 
around it the Spanish officers traced the lines for a fort, 
the soldiers, with their hands and anything they could 
fashion into an implement, digging the ditches and 
throwing up the ramparts. The next day, September 
7th, Menendez landed amid the thunder of artillery and 
the blasts of trumpets, with the banner of Castile and Ar- 
agon unfurled. The priest, Mendoza Grajales, who had 
landed the previous day, took a cross and proceeded to 
meet him, followed by the soldiers chanting the Te Deum. 
Menendez advanced to the cross, which he kissed on 
bended knee, as did all who followed him. The solemn 
mass of Our Lady was then offered at a spot the memory 
of which has been preserved on Spanish maps. It re- 
ceived the name of Nombre de Dios, as there the name of 
God was first invoked by the awful sacrifice of the new 
law. There, in time, the piety of the faithful erected the 
primitive hermitage or shrine of Nuestra Senora de la 
Leche. Thus began the permanent service of the Catholic 
church in the oldest city in the United States, maintained 
now, with but brief interruption, for more than three hun- 
dred years. The name of the celebrant is not stated. 
We know that, besides Grajales, there was present Dr. 
Salis Meras, brother-in-law of Menendez. 

The work of landing the supplies for the settlers, and 
arms and munitions for the soldiers, went steadily on 
directed by Menendez himself. His vessels could not cross 
the bar to enter the harbor, and were exposed to the 
attack of the French. In fact, his boats while landing 
supplies were nearly captured by the French, who sud- 
denly appeared. The Spaniards ascribe their escape to 



104 Ponce de Leon Land. 

Our Lady of Consolation at Utrera, whom they invoked 
in their sore strait. As soon as all needed by his settle- 
ment was disembarked, Menendez sent off his vessels and 
prepared to act on the defensive. His forces consisted of 
six hundred men at arms. The French were superior in 
numbers and had their ships. 

The first line of defence at St. Augustine was an 
octagon. The entrenchments were built with fascines, 
filled with earth and faced with logs, with ditches and 
slope. Earth and wood was the only material found at 
that time in this country that could be used in the con- 
struction of lines of defense. Menendez extended his 
lines and made an entrenched camp connecting with the 
fort for the protection of his colony. They landed eighty 
cannon from the ships ; the lightest of them weighed two 
thousand five hundred pounds. 

The Spaniards kept their people at work extending 
and strengthening their lines. Menendez appreciated hi& 
situation and the immense amount of labor it would take 
to put his fort in a state of defence, and complete an 
entrenched camp large enough to protect his colony in 
the event of an attack from the French. 

The fort was named San Juan de Pinos. In 1586, 
Sir Francis Drake landed on Anastasia Island. He sent 
his troops across the river and burned the city and cap- 
tured two thousand pounds sterling in the fort. This 
money had been sent from Spain for the payment of the 
troops. The Spaniards retreated in haste when the Eng- 
lish crossed the river, making but little resistance. The 
fort had been stockaded inside of the embankments, 
with loop holes for riflemen and platforms for cannon, 
built of large pine logs. 

In 1640, the Spaniards having subdued and cap- 
tured the Apalachian Indians, they were brought to St. 
Augustine and forced to labor upon the fortifications. At 
this period the fort and defenses of the town were built of 
earth and wood. The governor finding that there was 
a great need of stronger and more permanent defences,, 
commenced the use of the coquina rock for the reconstruc- 
tion of the fort and for building houses. The fort was 
strengthened by two large towers, mounting twenty-six 



Ponce de Leon Land. 105 

guns. This gave them a much wider range for their 
guns than they had previously. They constructed an 
exterior and interior wall, sixteen feet apart, filling 
between with earth well rammed. 

In 1665, Captain Davis came up the coast with a 
fleet of eight vessels. He landed and sacked the town 
without meeting opposition, the inhabitants retiring into 
the fort for protection. Davis did not attack the fort, 
although at that time it was incomplete. After Captain 
Davis' attack on the city the Spanish governor again 
changed the plan of the fort to a trapezium, with outer 
walls nine feet at the terrepleins and twelve feet at the 
base, built of coquina, with an interior wall three feet 
thick. The space between the two walls was filled with 
earth, covered with rock for the terreplein. It was tw^enly- 
one feet high, with ramparts and an interior wall about 
two feet above the terreplein, on which the guns were 
mounted. There were four bastions filled wath earth. 
The ditches were forty feet wide, the covered way, glacis, 
ravelins and place of arms were complete. 

The Spaniards worked diligently on the castle until 
the siege of 1702 by Governor Moore. It was then in a 
fair state of completion. It withstood the siege without 
material damage. 

Between 1703 and 1740, the fort was casemated and 
placed in a splendid condition for defence, with ample 
water supply for all the people it could hold. The town 
was defended by a series of lines of stockades and re- 
doubts. The north by three lines of defence — one from 
Fort Moosa to the St. Sebastian, one from the chapel of 
Nuestra Senora de la Leche, where the Catholic cemetery 
is now located, and one from the fort to tlie city gates, 
thence to the St. Seba.stian river. This line bad an 
embankment and moat forty feet wide. There were five 
redoubts on the Fort Moosa line, and three redoubts on 
the other two north lines — one on the west side between 
the inner and middle north lines, also a line running 
from the west point of the fort in and along the St. Sebas- 
tian marsh, thence turning to the eastward, making the 
south line, with five redoubts on the west and two on the 
south line. There were five interior lines; the south inte- 



106 Ponce de Leon Land. 

rior line running from the Mantanzas west, connecting 
with the west hne the New Smyrna road and ferry across 
the St. Sebastian river. The next interior line ran from 
the Matanzas westward, connecting with the St. Sebas- 
tian line on Little Bridge street, with a cross line forming 
a V, with the point near the monastery, and a redoubt 
facing the south on each of these east and west lines. The 
third interior line connects this second east and west inte- 
rior line about two-thirds of the distance from the Ma- 
tanzas to the St. Sebastian, with five angles. The next 
interior line connects the first redoubt on the fort line 
with the Matanzas, with two redoubts and two angles. 

There was a large battery oil Anastasia Island, cover- 
ing the main entrances to the harbor. In vain Ogle- 
thorpe directed the fire of his large number of guns 
against the solid walls of the castle. The shot, at such a 
long distance, did not penetrate more than thirty-three 
inches. This soft shell rock did not fracture or splintei" 
in the least, but impacked the same almost as the shot 
did that was thrown into the redoubts. The Spaniards 
had about fifty cannon, many of them brass, ranging from 
twelve to forty-eight pounders, and commanded by the 
brave and skillful General Monteano. On the twentieth 
day of July, after thirty-eight days' siege, General Ogle- 
thorpe found it was impossible to breach the walls of the 
castle sufficiently to make an assault practicable; he 
abandoned the siege and returned to his territory. 

Governor Monteano repaired the walls of the castle 
where they had been injured by the besiegers. In 1755, 
Don Alonzo Fernandez de Herreda was appointed Gov- 
erner of Florida, and completed the exterior works and 
finished the fort as it now is, with the exception of the 
Avater battery, which was constructed by the United 
States; also the hot-shot furnace, which was completed in 
1842; also the reconstruction and extension eof the sea 
wall. 

The Apalachian Indians were compelled to work on 
the castle for sixty years. To their efforts are probably 
due the evidence of the immense labor in the construction 
of the ditches, ramparts and glacis, and the approaches, 
the huge mass of stone contained in its solid walls. It 



PoNCK DE Leon Land. 107 

required the labor of hundreds of workmen for many 
years, procuring and cutting the stone in the quarries 
on the island, transporting them to the river and across 
the bay and fashioning and raising them to their places ; 
besides the Indians compelled to labor on this structure, 
some labor was constantly bestowed by the garrison. For 
a considerable period convicts were brought here from 
Mexico to work on the defences and other public works. 
During the repairs and extensions effected by Monteano 
previous to the siege by Oglethorpe, he worked one hun- 
dred and forty Mexican convicts. The southwestern 
bastion is said to have been completed by Monteano. The 
bastions bore the names of St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Charles 
and St. Augustine. 

It took one hundred guns for its complete armament, 
with a garrison of one thousand men. It is completed on 
the Vauban plan of fortification. It is one of the best of 
this plan of defence. Its strength for resisting shot and 
shell has been thoroughly tested in earlier days. It has 
never been taken, although twice besieged and several 
times attacked. 

Its frowning battlements and sepulchral vaults will 
long stand after we, and those of our day, shall be num- 
bered with that long past of which it is a memorial. Of 
the legends connected with its dark chambers and prison 
vaults, the chains, the instruments of torture, the skele- 
tons walled in its secret recesses, of Coacoochee's escape, 
and many other tales, there is much to say; but it is bet- 
ter said within its grim walls, where the eye and the im- 
agination can go together in weaving a web of mystery 
and awe over its sad associations to the solemn sound of 
the grating bolts and clanking chains. 

No fortress in all our broad land has as many quaint 
legends as this thrice named structure — San Juan de Pinos. 
San Marco and Marion. The entrance is over a draw- 
bridge to the ravelin and across a bridge to the portcullis. 
Over the entrance is the court of arms of Spain, with an 
inscription which is translated : "Don Fernandez the Sixth 
being King of Spain, and the Field Marshal Don Alonzo 
Fernandez de Herreda, Governor and Captain-General of 
the city of St. Augustine, Florida, and its province, this 



108 Ponce de Leon Land. 

fortress was finished in the year 1756. The works were 
directed by the Captain Engineer, Don Pedro de Brazas y 
Garay." 

On crossing the portcullis you pass through the mass- 
ive door into the sallyport; on the right are two guard 
rooms and a dungeon. The first guard room has a very 
large fireplace, the next having a smaller one. This dun- 
geon was evidently used for the confinement of prisoners 
for minor oft'ences. It was in this cell that Coacoochee 
and Talums Hadjo were confined. These Indians starved 
themselves for several days, until they were very much 
emaciated. They complained to the commanding officer 
that the confinement in the dark cell made them sick ; 
they were transferred to the court room with Osceola where 
they made their escape through iron bars eight inches 
apart, running horizontally across the ventilator. Next 
to the door are three niches cut in the wall by Osceola to 
enable him to climb up and sit on the ledge of the win- 
dow over the door looking into the quadrangle. The case- 
mate to the left of the sallyport was the commandant's 
quarters and had a small fireplace. The next casemate 
was for the staffs and other officers of the garrison. The 
next was used for the same purpose, except when the 
bishop came to Florida to visit his diocese it was used for 
his quarters; as he came but seldom it was used for officers' 
quarters principally. The next casemate was the court 
room ; it was a raised platform for the officers composing 
the court. On the next door is the last one of the origi- 
nal Spanish locks of very large dimensions, which was first 
locked, then a large bolt with a hasp closed the first key- 
hole and locked with a padlock ; this door is strapped in- 
side and out and bolted through the straps about five inches 
apart, so arranged that if the woodwork should be burned 
or cut away no one could get through the bars. The wood- 
work has been renewed ; the lock and bars are original ; 
the doors were thus constructed to all of the casemates. In 
the northwest corner is the casemate that leads into the 
magazine; in this room there is a niche very peculiarly 
shaped. For what purpose it was constructed no one can 
tell. There is a tradition that the first room was used for 
the council. If the commandant wished to find out what 



Ponce de Leon Land. 109 

action any member of that body took on any measures 
that he put before them, he could conceal himself in this 
niche in the magazine and find out what action each mem- 
ber of the council had taken. There is a small aperture 
from the niche into the council room, but not discernable 
from that room. 

The next room of historical im}K)rtance is the chapel. 
In this is the niche for the patron saint, 8t. Augustine, and 
the altar. The adjoining rooms were used ordinarily for 
the dormitories and the records of the colony, and for con- 
demned ])risoners to hear mass before they were executed. 
At that time they could not bring a condemned prisoner 
into a chapel; the moment he had a chance to kneel at 
the altar he could claim the right of sanctuary. In the 
wall near the spring of the arch is a part of the old tim- 
bers that crossed the room to support the platform for the 
choir; on the right are the old timbers wdiere the confess- 
ional was fastened to the wall — a round, circular place for 
the priest and for the person to confess ; next is a portion 
of the two founts for holy water. Who can give the his- 
tory of this chapel? We know that some of the brightest, 
best and most patriotic of the Spanish clergy have cele- 
brated mass within its walls. During the attacks and 
sieges of this fortress, when they have been driven from their 
monastery, church and chapels, they gathered within these 
walls to minister, assist and console their flock. Can we es- 
timate the value of the labor of this noble band of brothers 
during the long sieges, when the weeping mothers, wives, 
sisters and daughters were expecting every moment to 
have some one of their loved ones brought to them dead 
or wounded? They were not safe at tlie altar from the 
flying shot and bursting shell. Nor when celebrating 
mass or giving the last sad rites to the dead were they 
secure from danger. 

The next room of historical importance is the pennan- 
carrah. There were six crosses fastened to the wall on 
the right hand side of this room, and a large cross at the 
back with two large shrines, and two smaller shrines to 
the right and left of the large cross. This was used for 
the punishment of {)risoners ; they were chained under 
these crosses for punishment ; the chains were attached to 



110 Ponce de Leon Land. 

a bolt in the wall, it was fastened under the arms with 
cross chains over the shoulders, holding the prisoners in 
an upright position so they could neither sit nor lie down. 
There are two parallel lines at the spring of the arch with 
large half circles above and small circles below. At the 
entrance to this dungeon is a large circle with small cir- 
cles centering on it ; this entrance has been cut out at some 
time and then made narrower again ; a small part of this 
wall has been broken away. The door was composed of 
three tiers of iron bars on broad iron plates; two tiers ver- 
tical and one tier horizontal intersecting every two inches. 

This dungeon was evidently used for general prison- 
ers. The room is thirty feet long on the west side, sixteen 
feet on the east side, seventeen on the south and twenty 
on the north, making a part of a triangle. The entrance 
to the next room is through an aperture six feet high and 
two feet four inches wide. This room is five feet wide at 
the east end and seven at the west, and twenty feet long, 
fifteen feet high to the center of the arch. The next room 
is entered through an aperture thirty inches in height by 
three feet wide ; this room is twenty feet in length, thirteen 
in width and seven feet high. These two rooms have 
been the wonder ot thousands of people since they were 
first discovered in 1835. Some very curious legends have 
been related about them. Some historians claim that one 
was the magazine, others sa}^ that it was the place for the 
disposal of rubbish for the garrison. 

The magazine was in the northwest bastion. This 
is shown on a copy of the plan from the Spanish Govern- 
ment to the War Department. These two rooms wera 
built to cover a secret entrance to the castle, and were 
evidently built for that purpose after several attempts had 
been made to build a gallery from this inner room to 
some point outside the castle. It was found to be im- 
practicable. They had to sink a shaft nearly twenty feet 
to connect with a gallery under the moat. They found 
they could not drive the piling for the foundation of the 
gallery in the limited space they had to work in or keep 
the water from penetrating into the shaft and gallery. 
The work was abandoned. No one outside the officials 
and the troops of the garrison knew that the attempt was 



Ponce de Leon Land. Ill 

made to build a secret passage-way from this inner room 
to the outside of the fort. After abandoning the work the 
entrance to the first secret room was walled up. It was 
evidently closed with a solid iron door on the outside, 
and walled up solid on the inside. There was a small 
concealed entrance from the terreplein into this room ; it 
was by this giving away while they were moving one of 
the heavy cannon across this man-hole these rooms were 
discovered in 1835, fourteen years after it had been trans- 
ferred to the United States. In this room were cross- 
timbers and racks for the punishment of prisoners in ex- 
treme cases. There were two solid iron doors closing the 
entrance to the next room that opened in and out and 
could be opened only from the side when they were closed. 
It is in this room, tradition says, that two skeletons were 
found in iron cages bolted to the wall — the skeleton of a 
man and woman. The evidence remaining are the two 
places in the wall where the cages were fastened. If they 
were confined there, what was it for? Who were they? 
What crime had they committed, if any? 

It is probable that the crime committed was that of 
being in the way of some person of rank and power. If 
they had committed a crime against the laws of the land 
they could have brought them to trial and disposed of 
them without the trouble of immuring them in these 
secret dungeons. 

I am told by those who have been through all the 
note ddungeons in the Old World that there are none there 
to equal these two rooms. Once confined within its gloomy 
walls death was certain within a few hours, without the 
least passible chance of escape. It was a strong rod to 
hold over a people to threaten them with the acquaint- 
ance of these rooms, knowing that if they were sentenced 
by the court, or Inquisition, to be confined within their 
gloomy walls they would never more be heard of in this 
world. None but the officials know what became of them. 
What a terror to evil doers to threaten them witli the ac- 
quaintance of these terrible dungeons. 

The next room of historical importance is the room 
to the right, under the arch, which was used for the hos- 
pital. There is a niche in this room on the left hand side 



112 Ponce de Leon Land, 

as you go in, where, tradition says, there was found eight- 
een thousand dollars concealed. At the end is a very pe- 
culiar niche, which is supposed to have been used for the 
dead until they were sent to their last resting place. This 
is the last room that has historical interest. In the moat 
facing the Matanzas, to the right and left on the inner 
sides of the bastions, are a large number of bullet holes, 
which were made in the execution of prisoners. There is 
no fortress in our country that has so quaint a history as 
San Juan de Pinas, San Marco and Fort Marion. It 
should be remembered that within these walls served some 
of the best and bravest of the Spanish nobility, and at its 
altar some of its best missionaries have celebrated mass 
and preached the word of our Redeemer. 

No one that has not visited this old fortress can con- 
ceive what it is. One should sit within one of its case- 
mates and listen to the screech of those peculiar birds that 
nest and hatch their young within its walls — the monkey- 
faced owl, one of the quaintest birds on this continent-— 
and view the peculiar shadows cast on its gray and aged 
walls, or from its lofty watch tower see the moon rising 
out of the broad Atlantic, casting a flood of light like burn- 
ished silver over the water. . This is one of the few places 
on this continent that takes us back to the feudal ages. 
On this broad terreplein is one of the finest promenades 
in the United States. Who can say that this is not one 
of the most historical points in all our broad land? 



Ponce de Leon Land. 118 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

Descriptive Plan of Fort Marion, Florida. 

FORT MARION is built on the plan of a trapezium af- 
ter the pattern established by Marshal Vanban, of 
France. It has four bastions, lour curtains, twenty- 
six casemates, one magazine, four dungeons and two small 
rooms under the rampart leading to the terreplein, para- 
pet and rampart, corridor, banquet superior slope, scarp 
and counter scarp wall connects demilune and two half 
demilunes, covered way extending from the counter scarp 
to the glacis, except on the water front, which has a water 
battery, built by the United States in 1842; one watch tower, 
three sentry towers, two drawbridges and one port cullis. 
Tiie watch tower is a higher elevation tlian the fort or any 
portion of the surrounding country, enabling the sentinel 
to see every vessel or person approaching, in time to give 
warnino:. It overlooked the Indian villages of Tolomato 
and Toi)i<[ui. The three sentry towers are at the extreme 
•outer angle of the bastion, and are erenelled for riflemen 
to fire through, and to enable the sentinels to sec any one 
approaching the fortress. 

The terreplein is the place where the guns are mounted. 
The Spanish guns were mounted on large field carriages. 
The fort has embrasures on three sides only. On the wa- 
ter front the parapet is lower than on the other sides, so 
as to allow them to bring their heaviest guns to bear on 
tlie water front, as they had most to fear from an attack 
by water. The parapet is the wall above the rampart, 
and extends from the banquet to the scarp; the superior 
slope is the top of the parapet, with a fall of one foot in five; 
the cordon is a coping of dressed stone projecting eight 
inches from the face of the scarp; it is rounded, so as to 
leave no sharp corners that a hook might catch hold on, 
and to increase the difficulty in scaling ; it gives the scarp 
a finished appearance; the scarp wall inclines in from the 
.ground to the rampart, with a sloj)e of one-fifth : the mag- 
istral is where the face of the searp meets the under sur- 
face af the cordon. From this line all distances are meas- 
8b 



114 Ponce de Leon Land. 

Tired; it is the most important line about the work. The 
counter scarp is the face wall of the moat; the water runs 
into the moat at high tide, and runs out at low tide. Dur- 
ing the Spanish occupation there were automatic gates that 
opened when the tide came in and closed when it started 
out, thus retaining the water. The cuuette is the center 
of the moat, with the earth sloping to it in a regular grade 
to carry the water away. The quadrangle, or interior 
court, is one hundred feet square; the terreplein is thirty- 
eight feet wide; there are four bastions, one at each cor- 
ner, which enables the defence to concentrate the fire of a 
whole front on any point within range, and also to sweep 
its own moats. The line of the fronts is broken up into a 
number of lines in a peculiar manner, and the result is 
what is known as a bastion front. 

The demilune is V-shaped, the salient of which is 
toward the middle of the south curtain, and protects the 
entrance. It has a moat surrounding it. The walls are 
several feet lower than the main work. The two sides 
are called faces; the interior is called the gorge of the 
demilune. There are two half demilunes, one on the 
north and one on the west curtains. 

Places of Arms. — To make a sortie, with any chance 
of success, troops must be assembled in considerable num- 
bers, and columns of attack must be organized as close 
to the enemy as possible without discovery. There are 
two places on each front for such assemblies: (1) The 
salient place of arms; (2) the right re-entering place of 
arms; (3) the left re-entering place of arms. 

The salient place of arms is the part of the covered 
way in the angle immediately in front of the salient of the 
demilune. 

The right re-entering place of arms is where the cov- 
ered way in front of the right face of the demilune meets 
the covered wa}^ of the main work. There both covered 
ways are widened considerably, and the quadrangle (four- 
sided) space thus obtained is the right re-enterir.g place 
of arms. 

The left re-entering place of arms occupies a similar 
position in front of the left face of the demilune. 



Ponce de Leon Land. 115 

A salient augle is an angle that projects outward ; a 
re-entering angle is an angle that projects inward. 

The Glacis is to protect the scarp wall as much as 
possible from an enemy's fire. It is a mass of earth thrown 
up outside the covered way, and sloping with the same 
inclination as the superior slope of the parapet of the 
main work. To the gunner looking over the })arapet of 
the main work, this slope should look like a continuation 
of the superior slope. The glacis extends outwanl always 
at the same inclination until it meets the natural surface 
of the ground upon which the fort is built. The crest, or 
highest point of the glacis, is on the side of the covered 
way, where it ends abruptly in a wall of masonr}^ just 
like a parapet. 

The main gate, or entrance, is in the middle of the 
south curtain. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

SlKGK OrKKATlONS. 



THE BESIEGING ARMY.— When it has been deter- 
mined to reduce a fortified place by regular ap- 
proaches, an army is toled off for tlie work. The 
army should consist of inftmtry, cavalry, field artillery, 
siege artillery, and engineer troops, and should be suffi- 
ciently strong for the work it has to do, for not only must 
it be able to execute nil the siege operations required, but 
at the same time to repel any possible sorties from the 
garrison and to stand off any outside army that might 
attemj)t to raise the siege. 

Strength of the Besieging Ahmy. — This will vary 
with circumstances. As a rule, however, exf)erience has 
shown that 0,5<'0 infantry per mile of investments are 
none too many in a siege of first-class itnportance. 

Field Artillery. — The number of field guns re- 
quired depends upon the number and character of the 



ll<i Ponce de Leon Land. 

infantry troops. The better the infantry the fewer field 
guns are needed. On an average, five guns per thousand 
infantry ought to be enough. 

Cavalky. — Cavah'Y are indispensable in siege opera- 
tions. The country behind the besieging army, in all 
directions, must be constantly scouted and thoroughly 
picketed during the siege, and should a relieving army 
show itself anywhere within threatening distance, contact 
with it must be maintained by cavalry troops and the 
commanding general kept fully informed of all its move- 
ments. As it is not unlikely that a portion of the besieg- 
ing army will be called upon to join battle with the 
relieving army during the progress of the siege, the former 
should have at least the usual proportion of cavalr}'' — say 
from one-eighth to one-fifth the number of its infantry. 

Thio Cokps of Observation. — Is that portion of the 
besieging arm}' detached to watch the movements of a 
relieving force, and to fight it if necessar3^ 

Siege Artillery. — Siege guns' in sufficient num- 
bers, and artillerymen to serve them, should be on hand, 
or within easy reach, before siege operations are under- 
taken. There is no fixed rule as to the number and cali- 
ber of guns required, unless it be " more the better." 
The greater the number of guns in action the easier it is 
to maintain an overwhelming fire with the accuracy 
which requires deliberation. There is economy in it. 
The Germans had 200 rifled siege guns and 88 mortars 
at the siege of Strasburg, and they could have used more 
to advantage. 

The Investment. — The investment should be sud- 
den and complete. The cavalry of the besieging army, 
supported by the corps of observation, advances rapidly, 
drives the enemy inside the works, capturing as many 
prisoners as possible, and seizing all the roads and by- 
paths leading into it. The main body of the besieging 
army follows the corps of observation. 

The Camps. — Having got as close to the work as it 
is safe to go, the besieging army is distributed in conveni- 
ent positions on all sides of the work, where camps are 
established facing outward and out of sight of the enem3^ 
The camp faces outward — that is, away from the work — 
because any serious attack must come from that direction. 



Ponce de Leon Land. 117 

The Line of Circumvallation. — As tlic j^reatest 
danger to the besieging army is apt to come from the 
outside, it first fortifies itself in that direction. After the 
camps are estabhshed, facing outward as already said, a 
line of entrenchments is thrown up about 100 yards in 
front of the camp. Of course due advantage is taken of 
all the natural features of the ground. Commanding 
points — key points as they are called — Avill be crowned 
with redoubts, armed with field artillery, and joined to 
each other by an ordinary trench for riflemen. 

The Line ofCountervallation. — In rear of cam[)s — 
that is, toward the work — another line of entrenchments 
is thrown up. This will be about the same distance in 
rear as the line of circumvallation is in front of the 
camp, with such variation as the features of the ground 
may demand. The two lines are exactly alike, so far as 
their construction is concci'ued. The key [toints are 
crowned with redoubts armed with artillery and con- 
nected by rifle trenches. This new line of entrenchments 
is called the line of circumvallation. 

Of course the line of countervallation, being intended 
to stop any sortie from the work which might succeed 
in getting so far, will be constructed on ground best 
suited for that purpose. Still it is not wise to have it too 
far away from the outer line. Any desperate attem|)t to 
raise the seige wall consist of attacks from both direc- 
tions, and it is an advantage to be able to rajiidly 
reinforce one line from the other. Care should be taken, 
however, that the line should not l)e placed so that an en- 
in front of one could not take the other in reverse. 

The SiRVEY. — While the camps, roads and lines are 
being constructed, an accurate survey of the work and its 
surroujidings is made, and a plan thereof prepared for 
the information of the commanding general. This plan 
should show the position of the salients and as many of 
the details of the work as can be accurately ascertained, 
especially on the fronts selected for attacks. The plan 
should show such interior features of the works as have 
been ascertained to exist. 

Siege Material. — When the camps, roads and lines 
have been completed, the besieging army is set to work 



118 Ponce de Leon Land. 

preparing and collecting siege material. Gabions, fas- 
cines, faggots and sap rollers are made : logs are cut, 
hewed and hauled ; siege guns and mortars, ammunition, 
intrenching tools, and stores are brought up ; work shops 
storehouses, and magazines are built ; necessary roads are 
made, and everything done that can in any way help 
along the siege when it is once begun. 

Gabions. — A gabion is a rough cylindrical wicker- 
work basket, open at both ends. It is two feet in diame- 
ter, and two feet, nine inches high. Gabions are needed 
in immense quantities during the siege. They are made 
by the troops. If there be any woods in the vicinity of 
the camps, soldiers may provide themselves with the nec- 
essary material ; if not, material is brought to the camps 
in wagons. The material consists of stakes or pickets 
three feet long and about one inch in diameter, and wat- 
tHng twigs not quite so thick as the pickets, but as long- 
as can be procured. 

To Make a Gabion. — A direct circle, which the 
soldiers make for themselves, and a hatchet are all the 
tools required. The directing circle consists of two con- 
centric hooi)s, tlie minor one two feet in diameter and 
the outer one four inches larger. Three blocks, two inches 
thick, are inserted between the hoops and lashed securely 
ill position by means of pack thread. In making the 
gabion, the directing circle is laid on the ground and 
seven or nine pickets are driven at equal distance apart 
in the open ring, space of the directing circle. These 
pickets are the ribs of the gabion. When pickets are all 
driven the directing circle is slipped up about halfway to 
the top of the pickets and the upper half of the gabion is 
completed by wattling twigs between the pickets until the 
rough basket work reaches nearly to the top of the stakes. 
The gabion is then turned upside down, the directing cir- 
cle is removed, the other half of the gabion is wattled in 
iiH before, and the gabion is complete. 

Fascines is a bundle of twigs nine inches in diamter 
and ten feet long, firmly bound at intervals with 
wire spun yarn or tough withes. When withes are used 
for binding their pliability can be increased by warming- 
over a Hame innnediately before using them. Fascines 



Ponce de Leon Land. 119 

are also made by the troops. The tools required are a 
fascine horse, a fascine chocker and a hatchet. The horse 
and the chocker are made by the men. 
nUliJil'JA fascine horse is made by driving stakes obliquely 
in the ground in pairs, the stakes crossing each other 
about two feet above the ground, thus making something 
like an improvised sawbuck ten feet long. The pairs of 
stakes should be two feet apart. 

A fascine chocker is simply two stakes or hand-spikes 
and a piece of rope, with loops at the end sufficiently 
long to go around the loose bundle of twigs, which, when 
choked, bound and trimmed, becomes a fascine. 

To make the fascine, lay a sufficient number of twigs 
lengthwise in the facine horse, choke and bind at inter- 
vals of two feet and then trim the ends. 

Fagots are bundles of twigs nine inches in diameter 
and two feet nine inches long. They are bound in the 
same way as fascines, around a central stake, which pro- 
jects six inches at each end. One end of this stake is 
sharpened, the other .serves as a handle. 

A sap roller is simply an enormous gabion, four feet 
four inches in diameter and seven feet six inches long, 
and stuffed with short fascines. It is used in running a 
full sap. 

Planning Approaches. — While the work above de- 
scribed is going on, the commanding general, assisted 
by the proper staff officers, and the plan of work al- 
ready described, selects the bastion to be attacked and 
plans the approaches. He selects sites for the artillery 
park, the magazines, the engineering depot and the bat- 
teries. In short, he lays down the siege operations on 
paper. 

The Artillery Park. — The artillery park is the 
ground arsenal of the siege. It should be established at 
some place where it will be safely hidden and conve- 
nient. It is fenced in with a close board fence, at least 
eight feet high, is guarded and occupied by artillery 
troops, and it contains artillery storerooms, magazines, 
wheelwright shops, blacksmith shops, saddlers' shops, and 
carpenter shops. The magazine should be carefully sepa- 
rated from the rest of the park, and every precaution 



120 Ponce de Leon Land. 

should be taken to prevent fire, or to extinguish it 
promptly should it break out anywhere. The artillery 
park is kept as secret as possible. No one is allowed tO' 
enter without proper authority. Its business offices are 
situated some distance from the park. Orders for sup- 
plies are delivered to the guard at the gate, and stores 
or ammunition are delivered to applicants at the same 
place. Only the artillery troops on duty at the park are 
permitted to enter. 

The Engineering Depot. — The engineering depot 
is an enclosure somewhat similar to the artillery park. It 
contains the entrenching tools, engineering instruments, 
materials for a siege, and is occupied by engineer troops. 

The First Parallel. — When the artillery park and 
engineering depot are finished and stocked with at least 
ten days' supply of ammunition and material, when tlie 
guns are all up, and the plan of the siege completed, the 
first parallel is established. 

Tracing the Parallel. — The first parallel is traced 
by the engineers of the trenches. A dark night is selected; 
a foggy day would answer the purpose better. The en- 
gineer of the trenches, with a plan of the approaches in 
his hand, and accompanied by the necessary assistants, 
finds his way to the middle point of the parallel. This 
point has been previously determined and marked thus: 
^ on the plan. From that point he starts an assistant 
to run the right half and another to run the left half 
of the parallel. He sees that these assistants start, each 
with the correct bearing of his branch. Guided by the 
compasses these assistants march slowly along the lino of 
the parallel, followed by a man carrying a tape reel. The 
ends of the tapes have been made fast to the initial point, 
and the tape on each reel is the exact length of the half- 
parallel. The tape is ordinary white tape, about three- 
quarters of an inch in width. As it runs off" the reel it is 
permitted to lie On the ground, and is distinctly visible, 
even in the darkness. When the tape is all paid out the 
engineers know that they have reached the end of the 
parallel, and the ends are made fast at B and C. 

The First Guard of the Trenches. — While the 
first parallel is being traced a guard of sufficient strength 



Ponce de Leon Land. 121 

to occupy the parallel from end to end is drawn u{) in 
line some distance behind the line of the parallel. The 
men are instructed to advance directly to their front in 
perfect silence to and twenty yards beyond the white 
tape, and there to lie down and watch. They are the 
guard of the trenches. 

The Working Party. — A working party of suffi- 
cient strength to occupy the parallel at one yard intervals 
is assembled at the engineer depot at a short time before 
dark, and provided with intrenching tools. They are 
deployed at dusk in rear of the groand first occupied by 
the guard of the trenches, and instructed to follow the 
guard in its advance until they came to the white tape, 
and there to dig, throwing the dirt toward the enemy. 
By daylight a good servicable trench will be thrown up 
forming the first parallel. 

Enfilading Batteries — P'^irst Parallel. — Before 
the approaches can be driven forward it is necessary that 
the artillery fire of certain faces of the work be subdued. 
For this purpose enfilading batteries arc constructed. 
The faces to be subdued are those of the attacked bastion 
and the inner faces of the adjacent demilunes. The enfi- 
lading batteries of the first jxxrallel are placed .so as to 
sweep these faces. On the plan Nos. 1 and o on the 
right of the parallel enfilades the inner face of the left ad- 
jacent demilune, Nos. 5 and 7 the right face of the at- 
tacked bastion. On the left parallel Nos. 2 and 4 enfi- 
lade the inner face of the right adjacent demilune, and 
and 8 the left face of the attacked bastion. Each bat- 
tery should contain four siege guns. The positions for 
these batteries are .selected during the day and the bat- 
teries carefully staked out. At night they are thrown up 
by artiller\' trooi)s, and the platforms are laid and the 
guns placed in position. On the morning of the second 
(lay then eight batteries of the first parallel, containing 
thirty-two siege guns, should be ready for action. If it 
,be deemed advisable, more batteries may be constructed. 
There is room for any number of them. 

Mortar Batteries — First Parallel. — In order to 
annoy the besieged garrison, to break up its bombproof 
shelters and generally demolish the protections, and if 



122 Ponce de Leon Land. 

possible blow up its magazines, a number of mortar bat- 
teries are constructed in front of the lEirst parallel. The 
heaviest mortars are placed so as to fire along the capitals 
of the attacked bastions and adjacent demilunes. Thus 
eight mortar batteries are placed on the line a b, four on 
c d, and four on e f, and, as each battery should contain 
four mortars, there would be sixty-four mortars in front of 
the first parallel. 

These mortar batteries are constructed by artillery 
troops during the second night of the siege. They should 
be sunken batteries, so as not to mask the fire of the par- 
allel, and they should all be ready to open on the second 
morning. 

Road-Making. — During the first day the working 
party on duty perfects and completes the first parallel, 
digs the necessary drains and ditches, and makes a good 
macadamized road in the bottom of the trench through- 
out the whole extent of the parallel. Other working par- 
ties build roads, also macademized, connecting the ap- 
proaches with the artillery park. All these roads should 
be finished before night. The batteries on the right of 
the parallel have exclusive use of the left road. The 
mortar batteries must use the middle road. 

The First Bombardment. — On the second morning 
of the siege fire should be opened from every gun and 
mortar in position, each battery directing its fire upon its 
assigned target, and the fire should be kept up until the 
guns of the works on the face attacked are practically 
silenced. It is not to be assumed that the casualties will 
be on one side during this bombardment. Guns and car- 
riages will be disabled in the siege batteries as well as in 
the work. But the besiegers are better prepared to replace 
guns than the garrison. A number of guns stand ready 
near the siege batteries, under the shelter of the parallel, 
and whenever a gun is disabled another is run forward to 
replace it, and the fire is delayed but a few minutes. Dis- 
abled guns and material are immediately sent back to the 
artillery park, strong detachments of park artillerymen 
being always on hand near the batteries for this kind of 
work. 

Road Regulations. — The road from the artillery 



PoNCK DE Leon Land. 123 

park to the batteries must always be kept open for traffic. 
To this end everybody connected with the siege must con- 
fine themselves strictly to their alloted roads. Infantry 
troops, ambulances, and all supplies other than artillery 
material and ammunition, should never use the artillery 
roads, and the rule "keep to the right" should be strictly 
enforced on all roads. 

The Approaches. — Three approaches are driven 
forward from the first parallel on the third night of the 
siege ; one along the capital of the attacked bastion, and 
one along the capital of each adjacent demilune. They 
are known as the right, left and center attack, according 
to their position in line. These approaches are not 
driven straight along the capital, as that would expose 
them to a sweeping fire from the work. To avoid such 
an enfilade tlie}^ zigzag like a ship beating to windward, 
and never present an end to any portion of the besieged 
work. The rule is that the prolongation of every branch 
of the approaches must pass in front of every salient 
of the besieged work. 

Working Parties. — The approaches are driven for- 
ward by working parties detailed by company from the 
infantry of the besieging arm}^, in such numbers as the 
engineer of the trenches may require. Batteries and artil- 
lery communications are made and repaired by artillery 
troops assigned to that work by the chief of artillery. 
The tour of duty for working parties should be eight 
hours. The reliefs on duty during the night drive the 
approaches as far foivvard as practicable, doing the work 
in the rough as it were. Those on duty during the day 
deepen and widen the trench, attend to its drainage 
and construct a good, practicable macadamized road 
along it. The road and the drainage are very important 
features. If they be neglected the trench is apt to become 
an impassable quagmire. It must be remembered that 
the approaches are the great highways of the siege, and 
that there is a constant stream of heavy traffic passing 
along them to and from the front. 

The Simple Tken<'H. — As long as the danger from 
the enemy's fire is inconsiderable — that is, at long range — 
the approaches are driven forward by means of the 



124 Ponce de Leon Land. 

simple trench ; that is, the men distribute themselves on 
the line marked out, and cover themselves as quickly as 
possible by digging and throwing the earth toward the 
enemy. The trench should be at least five feet deep and 
nine feet wide at the bottom. No gabions should be used 
in its construction. 

Tracing the ArrKOACHES. — The engineer of tho 
trenches sees that sufficient work is laid out for every 
working party in advance. He has an assistant with each 
party, and it is his duty to trace the ap})roaches. This is 
done by stretching a white tape along the line of the ap- 
proach. The men of the working party, if the advance 
be by means of the simple trench, arrange themselves 
along the tape and dig, throwing the earth over the tape 
in the direction of the enem3^ As a rule, the simple 
trench can be used up to the second parallel. 

Guarding the Working Parties. — While working- 
parties always have their arms stacked within reach, and 
are ready in some measure to defend themselves in case 
of attack, still a strong guard is always necessary to pro- 
tect not only the workmen, but their work. The force 
thus empLn'ed is known as the guard of the trenches. It 
is detailed by battalions, the I'oster being kept at the head- 
quarters of the besieging army; and its tour of duty is 
twenty-four hours. A sufficient number of battalions are 
detailed to completely occupy the parallel, and, in addition, 
several field batteries and battalions of cavalry are detailed 
to cover flanks. These take up a convenient position, 
hidden from the enemy, outside of and some distance be- 
hind the batteries, on the flank of the first parallel. While 
the approaches are being driven forward from the first 
parallel, the guard of the trenches occupy the parallel. 

The Second Parallel. — The working parties in the 
approaches are safe from attack as long as they are nearer 
the guards in the parallel than the enemy in his outworks, 
but in course of time they get so far to the front that they 
are liable to be jumped on by a sortie before the guard 
can come to their assistance. To avoid this danger, the 
second parallel is constructed at a point a little short of 
the danger point — that is, less than half-way to the ene- 
my's nearest outwork. There is no regulation distance 
between parallels. 



Ponce de Leon Land. 125 

The second parallel is similar to the first, but shorter, 
so that the flanks of the parallel are covered by fire from 
the first parallel, and the artillery fire from the infilading 
batteries will pass outside its extremities. If the work on 
the approaches has progressed favorably, the second par- 
allel should be thrown up on the fifth night of the siege. 
The guartl of the trenches move into it before daylight on 
the hfth morning. Still work continues on it after its 
occupation until it becomes a safe, serviceable and conve- 
nient avenue of communication and lodgment of troops. 

To enable the guard of the trenches to advance 
promptly over the parallel against any sortie that may be 
sent out by the besieged garrison, the side of the trench 
toward the enemy and the interior slope of the parapet, 
or cut into steps and riveted with fascines. 

Batteries ok the Second Parallel. — To help the 
batteries of the first parallel in finishing the work as- 
signed them, and also to counterbatter the curtains and 
inner face of the collateral bastions, batteries are con- 
structed on the flanks of the second parallel similar to 
those on the Hank of the first. These batteries should be 
so placed as not to mask the fire of the batteries of the 
first parallel. The batteries of tlie second parallel may 
be armed with guns and mortars of smaller calil)re than 
those of the first. 

Breachi.vo thk Demilune. — Before the introduction 
■of rifled canon, it was necessary to drive forward the ap- 
proaches to the very crest of the glacis and there establish 
batteries to breach the scarp. P>ut this is no longer nec- 
essary. Indeed a breach can be made at one mile range 
with greater facility than at shorter ranges, and the work 
might be done at still greater distances. If, therefore, the 
first parallel has been established within 2, ()()() yards of 
the works, the batteries of that pai'allel will be favorably 
situated for breaching batteries. If, however, the first 
parallel was established at a greater distance, f^ay 8,000 
yards, then the breaching butteries would be on the second 
parallel. The batteries on the first ))arnllel two within 
easy breeching distance. 

When the guns on the faces of tlie attacked bastions 
iand those on the inner faces of the adjacent demilunes 



126 Ponce de Leon Land. 

have all been silenced and the fire from other parts of 
the works is well under control, the two demilunes are 
subjected to a steady shower of shell from the mortars in 
the first and second parallels. This fire is intended to 
drive the enemy out of the demilune and its covered way 
and places of arms, and should be kept up night and day. 
Meantime the batteries of the second parallel are assigned 
the duty of keeping down the fire of the work and pre- 
venting repairs, and the batteries of the first parallel pre- 
pare to breach the demilunes. 

The Third Parallel. — Assuming that the second 
parallel was established about 1,200 yards from the 
work, further approaches by means of simple trench will 
be too dangerous and resort must be had to the flying sap. 
The flying sap is the simple trench plus a pair of gabions. 
The approaches having been traced with tape as before, 
each man of the working party at the head of the sap 
provides himself with a couple of gabions. These he car- 
ries, one on each side, by passing the handle of his pick 
through one and the handle of his shovel through the 
other, the lower edge of the gabions resting on the shovel 
and the pick. At the word, perhaps a dozen men so 
equipped rush forward, plant their gabions on the ene- 
my's side of the tape, and fill them with earth as fast as 
possible. When the gabions are filled the digger has 
tolerable shelter, and proceeds with his work more leis- 
urely. Such method is not free from danger ; but as the 
work is done at night and the men need not all rush for- 
ward at the same time, the danger is not very great, and 
is more than counterbalanced by the celerity of the opera- 
tion. 

The third and all subsequent parallels are constructed 
in the same way as the second, special care being given 
to the ste|»es in tlie parapet and trench. These parallels 
are merely lodgments for troops, and they are constructed 
with that purpose in view. 

The Full Sap. — Beyond the third parallel it may 
be found necessary to resort to the full sap, or rather a 
modification of that contrivance. The sap roller should 
not bo necessary as the head of the sap is not exposed to 
any direct fire. But modern arms and modern marks- 



Ponce de Leon Land. 127 

manship are such that the flying sap will have to be 
abandoned when the third parallel is reached. 

The full sap, minus tlie sap roller, should be run by 
trained men, called sappers. Eight sa})pers constitutes a 
brigade, or rather the brigade consists of four sappers and 
four assistants. 

No. 1 sa])per stands in the trench already dug, and 
well covered by the gabion and parapet already con- 
structed, tosses anotlier gabion into position, and fills it 
by throwing the earth forward into it. When the gabion 
is filled he gives place to No. 2 sapper, who contin- 
ues the digging, throwing the earth over the gabion 
until he is exhausted. Nos. 3 and 4 follow in the same 
way, and then the assistants take up the work, widening 
and deepening the trench, while No. 1 fills another gabion. 
In this way the sap can be advanced at the rate of two 
feet in ten minutes without much danger. Of course the 
approaches are not complete wiien the assistant sapf)ers 
are through with it. The regular working party com- 
pletes it in the usual way. 

In this way the approaches are driven forward, and 
parallel after parallel is constructed until assaulting dis- 
tance is reached. Assaulting distance is about fifty yards. 

When the last parallel is finished and occupied, the 
demilunes is breached, batteries 1, -3, 5 and 7 direct their 
fire u])on the scarp of the demilune on their side immedi- 
atel}' behind the pancoupes, marked X in plan. Batteries 
2, 4, 6 and 8 direct their fire on the scarp of the other 
demilune in a similar manner. Batteries 9, 11, 13 and 
15 counterbatter and keep down the fire of the main work 
in their front, and batteries 10, 12, 14 and IG do the same 
for their front. The gunners are guided by observers in 
the parallel nearest tlie work, receiving reports by tele- 
graph, telephone or signal. A practical breach should 
be efiectcd in a few hours. 

Breaching the Main Work. — When the di^miluncs 
have been breached, the breaching batteries turn tl)eir 
attention to the attacked bastion, directing their fire on 
its salient, in accordance with the report of the observer 
in the nearest panillel. This salient, being subjected to 
a. cross fi re from all the batteries in the })arallel, will be 



128 Ponce de Leon Land. 

breached in u very short time. Meantime the demilunes 
should have been assaulted and carried, and the infantry 
should be ready to storm the breach in the attacked bas- 
tion the moment it becomes practicable. 

The artillery operations subsequent to breaching the 
attacked bistion will vary in each siege. The fire of the 
work must be kept down, and every breach must be pre- 
pared for assault by showers of shell from the mortars 
upon the position immediately behind the breach, and 
wherever the defenders may be supposed to find lodg- 
ment. Should the demilunes or bastions be found to be 
retrenched the entrenchments must be subjected to a ver- 
tical and carved fire until they are finally assaulted and 
carried. Machine guns will no doubt play a prominent 
part on both sides during the later stages of the conflict. 



CHAPTER XXXL 

The Transfer of Florida to England, in 17(33. 

THE Province of Florida was ceded to England by 
treaty in 1763. The Spanish inhabitants very gen- 
erally left the country, which had been under Span- 
ish rule for nearly two hundred years, and certainly in 
no portion of this country had less progress been made. 
Beyond the walls occupied by its garrison little had been 
attempted or accomplished in these two hundred years. 
This was in part, attributable to the circumstances of the 
country, the frequent hostility of the Indians and tlie want 
of that material support given by neighborhoods, which in 
Florida are less practicable than elsewhere; but it was still 
more owing to the character of the Spanish inhabitants, who 
were more soldiers than civilians, and more townsmen 
than agriculturists; at all events, at the cession of Florida 
to Great Britain the number of inhabitants was not over 



Ponce de Leon Land. 129 

five thousand. The English Governor made several ex- 
tensive improvements. During their occupation they 
constructed large barracks for troops and a bridge across 
the St. Sebastian. It is stated the number of inhabitants 
of East Florida, which in those days meant mostly St. 
Augustine, from 1603 to 1771, was as follows: House- 
holders, besides women, two hundred and eighty eight; 
imported by Mr. Turnbull, from Minorca, one thousand 
four hundred ; negroes, upwards of nine hundred ; of the 
Tvhite heads of ftimilies one hundred and forty-four were 
married, which was just one-half; thirty-one wore store- 
keepers and traders, three haberdashers, lifteen inn keep- 
ers, forty-five artificers and mechanics, one hundred and 
ten planters, four hunters, six cowkeepers, eleven over- 
seers, twelve draftsmen in the employ of the Government, 
besides mathematicians; fifty-oight had left the province, 
twenty-eight died, of whom four, acting as constables, 
were killed ; two were hanged for piracy. Among the 
names of those then residing in East. Florida were Sir 
Charles Burdet, William Drayton, planter, C'iiief Justice ; 
Rev. John Forbes, parson. Judge of Admiralty and Coun- 
seller ; Rev. M. Eraser, parson at Mosquit ; Governor 
James Grant, Honorable John Moultre, planter and Lieu- 
tenant-Governor; William Stark, Esq., historian; Andrew 
Turnbull, Esq., His Majesty's Counsellor ; l>arnard Ro- 
mans, draftsman ; William Bartram, planter, and James 
Moultre, Esq. 

The lighthouse on Anastasia Island had been con- 
structed of coquinaby the Spaniards. In 17(39, by order 
of General Haldiman, it was raised sixty feet liigher wi-th 
frame work ; and had a cannon planted on top, which was 
fired the moment the flag was hoisted for a signal to the 
town and pilots that a vessel was in sight. The light- 
house had two flag-staffs, one to the south and one to the 
north ; on either of which the flag was hoisted, to the 
south if the vessel was coming from there, and to the 
north if the vessel was coming from that direction. 

The town is one of the healthiest in the United States. 
It is nearly surrounded by salt water, with plenty of 
fruit, figs, guavas, })lantains, pomegranates, lemons, limes, 

9b 



130 Ponce de Leon Land. 

citrons, shaddocks, bergamot, China and Seville oranges, 
the latter full of fruit through the winter. On the third 
of January, 1776, the thermometer sunk to 26°, with the 
wind from the northwest. The ground was frozen an 
inch deep. This was the fatal night that destroyed the 
lime, citrus and banana trees in St. Augustine. In 1740 
there was a snow-storm, and again in 1836. It did no 
damage. 

Dr. Nicholas Turnbull, in 1767, associated with Sir 
William Duncan and other Englishmen of note, projected 
a colony of European emigrants to be settled at New 
Smyrna. He brought from the islands of Greece, Corsica 
and Minorca some fourteen hundred persons, agreeing to 
convey them free of expense, finding them in clothing- 
and provisions, and at the end of three years to give fifty 
acres of land to each head of a family and twenty-five to 
each child. After a long passage they arrived and founded 
the settlement. The principal article of cultivation was 
indigo, which commanded a higli price at that time, and 
was assisted by a bounty from the English Government. 

After a few years, Turnbull, as it is alleged, either 
from avarice or naturally evil mind, assumed control the 
most absolute over these colonies, and practiced cruelties 
most painful to them. 

An insurrection took place in 1769 among them, in 
consequence of severe punishment, which was speedily 
repressed, and the leaders brought to trial before the court 
at St. Augustine. Five of the number were convicted 
and sentenced to death. Governor Grant pardoned two of 
the five, and a third was relea.sed upon the condition of 
his becoming the executioner of the other two. Nine 
years after the commencement of their settlement their 
number had becoirK^ reduced from one thousand four 
hundred to six hundred. In 1776 proceedings were in- 
stituted in theirbehalf by Mr. Younge, the Attorney-Gen- 
eral of the province, which resulted in their heing exon- 
erated from the contract with Turnbull; and they were 
thereu))on assigned lothe noithern f)ait "f the city, wliich 
was )»rincipally built up by them, and their descendants 
at the present day form the largest part of the population 
of the place. 



Ponce de Leon Land. 131 

Governor Grant was the first English governor, and 
was a gentleman of much energy. During his term of 
office he projocted many great and permanent improve- 
ments in the province. 

The public road, known as the King's road, from St. 
Augustine to Smyrna, and from St. Augustine to Jack- 
sonville, and thence to Colerayne, was then constructed, 
and remains a lasting monument of his wisdom and 
desire for improvement. 

Governor Tanyn succeeded Governor Grant, and a 
legislative council was authorized to assemble, and a pre- 
tence and form of a constitutional government were gone 
through with. 

In August, 1775, a British vessel called the Betsy, 
Captain Lofthous, from London, with one hundred and 
eleven barrels of powder, was captured off the bar of St. 
Augustine by an American privateer from Charlestown, 
very much to the disgust and annoyance of the British 
authorities. 

At this period St. Augustine assumed much import- 
ance as a depot and point d'appui for the British forces in 
their operations against tiie Southern States, and very 
considerable forces were, at times, assembled here. 

The expedition of General Provost against Savannah 
was organized and embarked from St. Augustine in 1777. 
Sixty of the best citizens of Carolina were seized by the 
British in 1780 and transported to St. Augustine as pris- 
oners of war and hostages, among whom were Arthur 
Middleton, Edward Rutledge, General Gadsden and Mr, 
Calhoun. All were put upon parole, except General 
Gadsden and Mr. Calhoun, who refused this indulgence 
and were committed to tlie fort, where they remained 
months close prisoners. General Rutherford and Colonel 
Isaacs, of North Carolina, were committed to the foil also. 

An expedition was fitted out from St. Augustine 
in 1783 to act against New Providence, under Colonel 
Devereux. With very slender means, that able officer 
succeeded in capturing and reducing the Bahamas, which 
have since remained under Enghsh domination. 

The exi)ense of supporting the Government of East 
Florida during the English occupation was very consider- 



132 Ponce de Leon Land. 

able, amounting to the sum of £122,000. The exports of 
Florida in 1778 amounted to £48,000, and in 1772 the 
province exported forty thousand pounds of indigo, and 
in 1782 twenty thousand barrels of turpentine. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 



Recession of Florida to Spain — The Erection of the 
Cathedral, 1783 to 1821. 

TN June, 1783, in fulhllment of a treaty between Eng- 
I land and Spain, Florida, after twenty years of British 
^ occupation, was receded to the Spanish Crown, and 
taken possession of by Governor Zespedez. 

The English residents generally left the country and 
went either to the Bahamas, or Jamaica, or the United 
States. Those wlio went to the British islands w^ere al- 
most ruined, but those wdio settled in the United States 
were more successful. 

In April, 1793, the present Catholic church was com- 
menced, the previous church having been in another por- 
tion of the city. It was constructed under the direction 
of Don Mariana de la Rocque and Don P. Berrio, govern- 
ment engineer officers. The cost of the church was 
$10,650, of which about $6,000 was received from the 
proceeds of the material and ornaments of the old church, 
about $1,000 from contributions of the inhabitants, and 
the remaining $10,000 was furnished b}^ the Government. 
One of its four bells has the following inscription, show- 
ing it to be the oldest bell in the country. The inscrip- 
tion is: "Saint Joseph Ora Pro Nobis D. 1682." 

In the spring of 1818, General Jackson made his 
celebrated incursion into Florida, and by a series of ener- 
getic movements followed the Seminoles and Creeks to 



Ponce de Leon Land. 133 

their fastnesses, and forever crushed the power of these 
formidable tribes for offensive operations. 

In the latter part of ISIT, a revolutionary party took 
possession of Amelia Island and raised a soi-disant pati'iotic 
flag at Fernandina, supported mainly in the enterprise by 
adventurers from the United States. McGregor was as- 
sisted by officers of the United States army. An expedi- 
tion was sent from St. Augustine by the Spanish Govern- 
ment to eject the invaders, which failed. 

One Aury, an English adventurer, for a time held 
command there, and also a Mr. Hubbard, formerly sheriff 
of New York, who was the civil governor, and died there. 
The United States troops eventually interfered. Negotia- 
tions for the cession of Florida put a stop to further hos- 
tilities. 

The King of Spain, finding his possessions in Florida 
utterly worthless to his crown and only an expense to sus- 
tain the garrison, while the repeated attempts to disturb its 
political relations prevented any beneficial progress towards 
its settlement, gladly agreed, in 1819, to a transfer of Flor- 
ida to the United States for five millions of dollars. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

Transfer of Florid.v to the United States. 

ON the 10th of July, in the year 1821, the standard of 
Spain, which had been raised two hundred and 
fifty-six years before over St. Augustine, was finally 
lowered forever from the walls over which it had so long 
fluttered. The stars and stripes of the youngest of nations 
rose, where sooner or later the hand of destiny would as- 
suredly have placed it. 

It was intended that the change of flags should take 
place on the Fourth of July. Owing to a detention this 



134 Ponce de Leon Land. 

was frustrated, but the inhabitants celebrated the Fourth 
with a handsome public ball at the Governor's house. 

Tlie Spanish garrison and officers connected with it 
returned to Cuba, and some of the Spanish families, but 
the larger portion of the inhabitants remained. A con- 
siderable influx of inhabitants from the adjoining States 
took place, and the town speedil}- assumed an American 
character. The proportion of American population since 
the change of flags has been about one-third. Most of the 
native inhabitants converse with equal fluency in either 
language. 

In the year 1823, the Legislative Council of Florida 
held its second session in the Government House at St. 
Augustine. Governor W. P. Duval was the first governor 
after the organization of the territory. 

In December, 1835, the war with the Seminole In- 
dians broke out, and for some years St. Augustine was 
full of the pomp and circumstance of war. It was dan- 
gerous to venture beyond the gates, and many sad scenes 
of Indian cruelty took place in the neighborhood of the 
city. 

The extensive barracks built during the English 
occupation were destroyed by fire in 1792. The Fran- 
ciscan Convent was occupied, as it had been before, as a 
barracks for the troops not garrisoned in the fort. The 
appearance of these buildings has been much changed by 
the extensive repairs and alterations, made by the United 
States Government. It had formerly a large circular look- 
out, from which a beautiful view of the surrounding- 
country was obtained. Its walls are among the oldest in 
the city. 

The present postoffice building was tlie residence of 
the Spanish Governor. It has been rebuilt by the United 
States ; its former quaint and interesting appearance has 
))een lost in removing its balconies and the handsome 
gateway, which is said to have been a fine specimen of 
Doric architecture. 

Trinity Episcopal Church was consecrated in 1833 by 
Bishop Bowen, of South Carolina. The Presbyterian 
Church was built in 1830, and the Methodist Chapel about 
1840. The venerable building on the bay, on the corner 



Ponce de Leon Land. 135 

of Green Lane and Bay street, is considered one of the 
oldest buildings in the city, and has evidently been a fine 
building in its day. It was the residence of the Attorney- 
General in English times. 

The monument on tlie public square was erected in 
1812, upon the information of the adoption of the Spanish 
Constitution, as a memorial of that event, in pursuance of 
a royal order to that effect directed to the public authori- 
ties of all the provincial towns. The plan was made by 
the father of the late General Hernandez. A short time 
after it was put up, the Spanish Constitution having a 
downfall, orders were issued by the government that all 
the monuments erected to the Constitution throughout its 
dominions should be demolished. The citizens of St. 
Augustine were unwilling to see their monument torn 
down, and, with the passive acquiescence of the Governor, 
the marble tablet inscribed " Plaza de la Constitution " 
being removed, the monument itself was allowed to stand ; 
and thus remains the only monument in existence to 
commemorate the farce of the Constitution of 1812. In 
1818 the tablet was restored without objection. 

The bridge and causeway are the work of the United 
States Government. The present sea-wall was built be- 
tween 1835 and 1842 by the United States, at an expense 
of one hundred thousand dollars. 

The house on St. Francis street, opposite the monas- 
tery building, is considered the oldest building in the city ; 
it is owned by Dr. C. P. Carver, dentist. There was, until 
five years ago, a peculiar date palm tree growing in the 
yard; the heavy freeze that winter killed it. This house 
gives one the idea of the style of architecture used at the 
early period of the settlement of this country. It is one 
of the many quaint attractions of the Ancient City. 



136 Ponce de Leon Land. 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 
The Seminole War. 

THE early history of Florida Territory soon after it 
came into the possession of the United States being 
written in characters of blood for years, it is consid- 
ered both appropriate and interesting to intersperse a 
sprinkling of historical facts in this work, to the authen- 
ticity of which some now living can testify. 

The Indians were intensely opposed to emigrating 
West, as that country offered them no such means of idle- 
ness as Florida, where they lived with as little solicitude as 
the buzzards that lazily flew above their heads, while in 
Arkansas the}' would have to work. They were a race of 
hunters and fishermen, with no habits of industry, gliding 
on the surface of lakes and rivers with as little idea of lo- 
cating as the watery inhabitants the}' captured. 

The movements of the Indians and American troops, 
encumbered with their wagons or field pieces, compared 
unfavorably with the agile foe they had to meet in war- 
fare, who could swim the streams and leap over the logs 
of the wide forest and vanish like the whooping crane that 
made its nest far from the spot where it dashed the dew 
from the flowers in the morning. 

One of the occasions of the Seminole War, like our 
own late struggle, was on account of the fugitive slaves 
which the Indians harbored instead of returning to their 
owners, or permitting their masters to come and get them. 

The following is a correct copy of an interesting docu- 
ment, to which frequent reference was made during the 
Florida War as a compact which had been violated. We 
have transferred it as an item of interest. As the whites 
found the Indians becoming troublesome neighbors, this 
treaty was drawn up in order to rid the country of them ; 
its violation being the true cause of the war: 

''Treaty of Payne's Landing, Concluded May 9, 1832,. 
and Ratified April, 1834. 

"Article I. That the Seminole Indians relinquish 
to the United States all claim to the land they at present 



Ponce de Leon Land. 137 

occupy in the Territory of Florida, and agree to emigrate 
to the country assigned to the Creeks, west of the Missis- 
sippi river — it being understood that an additional extent 
of territory, proportioned to their number, will be added 
to the Creek country, and that the Seminolcs will be re- 
ceived as a constituent part of the Creek Nation, and be 
re-admitted to all the privileges as a member of the same. 

"Article II. For and in consideration of the relin- 
quishment of claim in the first article of this agreement, 
and in full compensation for all the improvements which 
may have been made on the lands thereby ceded, the 
United States stipulates to pay to the Seminole Indians 
fifteen thousand dollars, to be divided among the chiefs 
and warriors of the several towns, in a ratio proportioned 
to their population, the res})ective portions of each to be 
paid on their arrival in the country they consent to move 
to; it being understood their faithful inter})reters, Abra- 
ham and Cudjo, shall receive two hundred dollars each 
of the above sum, in full remuneration for the improve- 
ments to be abandoned now cultivated by them. 

"Article III. The United States agree to distribute, 
as they arrive at their homes in the Creek territory, west 
of the Mississippi river, a blanket and homespun frock 
to each warrior, woman and child of the Seminole tribe 
of Indians. 

"Article IV. The United States agree to extend tlie 
annuity for the support of a blacksmith, provided for in 
the Sixth Article of the Treaty at Camp Moultrie, for ten 
years beyond the period therein stipulated, and in addition 
to the other annuities secured under that treaty, the 
United States agree to pay three thousand dollars a year 
for fifteen years, commencing after the removal of the 
whole tribe. These sums to be added to the Creek annu- 
ities, and the whole sum to be divided, that the chiefs 
and warriors of the Seminole Indians may receive their 
equitable portion of the same, as members of the Creek 
Confederation. 

"Article V. The United States will take the cattle 
belonging to the Seminolcs at the valuation of some dis- 
creet person appointed by the President, and the same 
shall be paid for in money to the respective owners after 



138 Ponce de Leon Land. 

their arrival at their new homes, or other cattle, such as 
may be desired, will be furnished them ; notice being 
given through their agent of their wishes on the subject 
before their removal, that time may be afforded to supply 
the demand. 

"Article VI. The Seminoles being anxious to be 
relieved from certain vexatious demands for slaves and 
other property alleged to have been stolen and destroyed 
by them, so that they may remove to their new homes 
unembarrassed, the United States stipulates to have the 
same properly investigated, and to liquidate such as may 
be satisfactorily established, provided the amount does 
not exceed seven thousand dollars. 

"Article VII. The Seminole Indians will remove 
in three years after the ratification of this agreement, and 
the expenses of their removal shall be paid by the United 
States, and such subsistence shall also be furnished for a 
term not exceeding twelve months after their arrival at 
their new residence, as in the opinion of the President 
their numbers may require; the emigration to commence 
as early as practicable in A. D. 1833, and with those In- 
dians occupying the Big Swamp and other parts of the 
country beyond, as defined in the Second Article of 
the Treaty, concluded at Camp Moultrie Creek, so that 
the whole of that portion of the Seminoles may be re- 
moved within the year aforesaid, and the remainder of 
the tribe in about equal proportions during the subsequent 
years, 1834 and 1835. 

"Done at Camp at Payne's Landing, on the Ockla- 
waha river, in the Territory of Florida, May 9, 1832. 

"James Gadsden, 
"Commissioner, and Fifteen Chiefs. (L.S.)" 

Osceola figured very conspicuously during the early 
history of our Florida troubles. Indeed, we consider the 
following statements connected with his movements as 
items of unsurpassed interest to those who are more fond 
of facts without fiction than the wondrous legends of any 
day-dreamer. 

The mother of Osceola belonged to the Red Stick 
tribe of Indians — a branch of the Creeks. She was mar- 
ried to Powell, who was an English trader among the 



PoxcE i)E Leon Land. 139 

Indians for twenty years, and for this reason lie is some- 
times called Powell instead of Osceola. He was born in 
the State of Georgia, on the Tallapoosa river, about the 
year 1800. In 1808 a ([uarrel occurred among the 
Indians of the Creek tribe, when the mother of Oseola 
left, taking him with her, and retiring to the Okefinokee 
swamp. Powell remained in Georgia with his two 
daughters and emigrated to the West with them. 

In 1817, Osceola retreated before General Jackson 
with a small party, and settled on Peace creek. A few 
years afterwards he removed to the Big Swamp, in the 
neighborhood of Fort King, uniting himself with the 
Miccosukees. The greater portion of his life was spent in 
disquietude, when there was neither peace nor war, but 
depredations in various ways. He was oppo.sed to the 
Payne Treaty, declaring he would fight before signing it, 
or kill any of his followers who made a move towards 
its ratification. 

When the Indians held a council at Fort King, con- 
sisting of thirteen chiefs, only eight of them were willing 
to leave for the West. Hoithlee Matee, or Jumper, a sworn 
enemy of the whites, who was called "the lawyer," and 
for wliom General Jackson had offered a reward of five 
hundred dollars, rose in the council with all the dignity 
of a Roman orator, after which he announced his intention 
in thundering tones: "I say there is no good feeling be- 
tween Jumper and the white man. Every branch he 
hews from a tree on our soil is a limb sapped from Hoith- 
lee's body; every droj) of water that a white man drinks 
from our springs is so much blood from Hoithlee's heart." 

After the return of Charlie Fmathla from the West, 
who was the most intelligent of their chiefs, he met the 
whites in council that he might give expression to his 
opinion. "Remain with us here," .said he to the whites, 
"and be our father. The relation of parent and child to 
each other is peace; it is gentle as arrowroot and honey. 
The disorderly among us have committed some depreda- 
tions, but no blood has been spilled. We have agreed 
that if we met a brother's blood on the road, or even found 
his dead body, we should not believe it was by human 
violence, but that he snagged his foot, or that a tree had 



140 Ponce de Leon Land, 

fallen upon him ; that if blood was spilled by either, the? 
offender should answer for it." 

Previous to this period the Indians were lords of the- 
soil, and considered themselves located in a land of undis- 
puted titles as entirel}" their own property, by right of' 
possession, as though they held registered deeds. 

The following is an effort at Indian poetry, descriptive 
of their condition previous to hostile demonstrations : 

" We were a happy people then, 
Rejoicing in our hunter mood; 
No footsteps of the pale-faced men 
Had marred our solitude." 

Osceola was not tall, but of fine figure and splendid 
physique. His head was always encircled with a blue 
turban, surmounted by the waving tafa luste. or black 
eagle plumes, with a red sash around his w^aste. He was 
a time-server — a self-constituted agent — and a dangerous 
enemy when enraged. In 1834, the United States Survey 
Corps, while camping at Fort King, was visited by Osceola, 
Fred. L. Ming being their captain. Indians always show 
their friendship by eating with their friends. On this 
occasion he refused all solicitations to partake of their 
hospitality, and sat in silence, the foam of rage resting in 
the corners of his mouth. Finally he arose to retire, at 
the same time assuming a menacing manner, and seizing 
the surveyor's chain, said: "If you cross my land I will 
break this chain in as many pieces as there are links in 
it, and then throw the pins so far you can never get them 
again." Like most of his race, he was possessed of a 
native eloquence, of which the following is a specimen, 
after the Payne's Landing treaty was framed and signed 
by some of the chiefs: "There is little more to be said. 
The people have agreed in council; by their chiefs they 
have uttered it ; it is well ; it is the truth, and must not 
be broken. I speak ; what I say I will do ; there remains- 
nothing worthy of words. If the hail rattles, let the 
flowers be crushed ; the stately oak of the forest will lift 
its head to the sky and storms, towering and unscathed." 

The whites continued to urge the stipulations of the 
treaty to be enforced, while the Indians continued opposing 
it in every way. It is the law of our nature that the- 



Ponce de Leon Land. 141 

weak should .suspect the strong; for this reason the Semi- 
iioles did not regard the Creeks as their friends, but feared 
them. Captain Wiley Thompson, the agent, kept remind- 
ing the Indians that they had made a promise to leave 
for the West. Messages were also sent to Micanopy, who, 
•after much debate, .said he would not go. Sometime after- 
ward General Thompson ordered Osceola to come up and 
sign the emigration list, which request moved the indigna- 
tion of the savage to the highest pitch of desperation, and 
he replied: ''I will not!" General Thompson then told 
him he had talked with the Big Chief in Washington, who 
would teach him better. He replied: "I care no more for 
Jackson than for you," and rushing up to the emigration 
treaty as if to make his mark, stuck his knife through the 
paper. For this act of contempt he was seized, manacled 
and confined in Fort King. When Colonel Fanning 
arrested him he was heard to mutter: '-The sun is over- 
head; I shall remember the hour. The agent has his 
day — I will have mine." After he was first imprisoned 
he became sullen, but soon manifested signs of penitence 
and called the interpreter, promising, if his irons were 
tiiken off, to come back when the sun was high overhead 
and bring with him one hundred warriors to sign the 
paper, which promise was fulfilled. The great mistake 
was made in releasing him from Fort King. If he had 
then been sent West much blood and treasures would 
have been spared. He had one talk for the white man 
and another for the red, being a strange compound of 
duplicity and superiority. After his release he com- 
manded his warriors to have their knives in readiness, 
their rifles in order, with plenty of powder in their 
pouches, and commenced collecting a strong force, not 
eating or .sleeping until it was done. 

The first direct demonstration of hostility was on 
June 19, 1835, near what is called Hogg's Town settle- 
ment, at which time one Indian was killed, another fa- 
tally injured : also, three whites wounded. The fray com- 
menced by some whites whipping a party of five Indians, 
whom they caught in the act of stealing. Private Dalton. 
a dispatch rider, was killed August 11, 18;3."), while carry- 
ing the mail from Fort Brooks to Fort King. This wa.s 



142 Ponce de Leon Land. 

an act of revenge for an Indian killed in a former en- 
counter. Dalton was found twenty miles from Fort King, 
with his body cut open and sunk in a pond. The In- 
dians commenced snapping their guns in the face of the 
Government, at the same time expressing their contempt 
for the laws, and threatening the country with bloodshed 
if any force should be used to restrain them. November 
30, 1«35, the following order was issued by the agent: 
"The citizens are warned to consult their safety by guard- 
ing against Indian depredations." Hostilities were soon 
inaugurated in a most shocking manner with a tragedy of 
deep import — in the killing of Charlie Emathla, November 
26, 1835, which act was a cold-blooded murder, Osceola 
heading the band of savages. Charlie Emathla was shot 
because he favored emigration, and was preparing to move 
West. 

Osceola afterwards selected ten of his boldest warriors, 
who were to wreak vengeance on General Thompson. The 
general was then camping at Fort King, little dreaming 
that the hour of his dissolution was so near, or that Osceola 
was lying in wait to murder him. Although a messenger 
was sent to tell Osceola of the Wahoo Swamp engagement 
being in readiness, no laurels won on other fields had any 
charms for him until Thompson should be victimized by 
his revengeful machination. After lingering about for 
seven days, the opportune moment presented itself when 
Thompson was invited away from the fort. On the after- 
noon of December* 28, 1836, as he and Lieutenant Smith, 
who had dined out that day, were unguardedly walking 
toward the sutler's store, about a mile from the post, the 
savages discovered them. Osceola said : " Leave the agent 
for me; I will manage him." They were immediately at- 
tacked by the warriors. They both received the full fire 
of the enemy and fell dead. 

Thompson was perforated with fourteen bullet holes 
and Smith with five. The Indians then proceeded to the 
store, where they shot Rogers and four others. After the 
murder they robbed the store and set fire to the building; 
the smoke gave the alarm, but the garrison at Fort King 
being small, no assistance could be rendered them. 

On the same day, December 28th, and nearly the 



Ponce de Leon Land. 143 

same hour, Major T. L. Dade, when live miles from Wa- 
hoo Swamp, was attacked while on his way from Fort 
Brooks to Fort King. The Indians were headed by 
Jumper, who had previously warned those who were 
cowards not to join him. Micanopy, their chief, who was 
celebrated for his gluttony, and, like the Trojan heroes, 
could eat a whole calf or lamb and then coil up like a 
snake for digestion, on a previous occasion, when an ap- 
peal was made to him, by the argument of bullet force, 
replied: "I will show you," and afterward stationed him- 
self behind a tree awaiting the arrival of the Fort Brooks 
force, while his warriors lay concealed in the high grass 
around them. When Major Dade arrived opposite where 
the chief and his men were ambushed, Micanopy, in honor 
of his position as head chief, leveled his rifle and killed 
him instantly. Major Dade was shot through the heart 
and died, apparently, without a struggle. The savages 
rushed from their covert, when Captain Frazier was the 
next victim, together with more than a hundred of his 
companions. The suddenness of the attack, the natural 
situation ot the country, with its prairies of tall grass, each 
palmetto thicket being a fortress of security, from which 
they could hurl their death-dealing bullets, were all for- 
midable foes with which the whites had to contend. 
Within a few hours' march of Fort King, under Ijhe noon- 
day splendor of a Florida sun, were one hundred and 
seven lifeless bodies which had been surprised, murdered 
and scalped, with no quarter and far from the sound of 
human sympathy. 

The night after the "Dade Massacre" the Indians 
returned to Wahoo Swamp with the warm life-current 
dri])})ing from the soaljis of those they had slain. These 
scalps were given to Hadjo, their medicine man, who 
placed them on a pole ten feet high, around which they 
all danced, after smearing their faces with the blood of 
their foes and drinking freely of fire-water. One instance 
is mentioned worthy of remark, in regard to linding 
Major Dade's men with their personal property untouched. 
Breasti)ins of the officers were on their breasts, watches 
in their places, and silver money in their j)Ockets. They 
took the military coat of Major Dade and some clothing 



144 PoNXE DE Leon Land. 

from his men, with all their arms and ammunition, 
which proved they were not fighting for spoils, but their 
homes. The bloody eight hundred, after they had com- 
mitted the murder, left the bodies unburied and without 
mutilation, except from scalping. They were buried by 
the command of Major General Gaines, who also named 
this tragic ground " The Field of the Dead." 

Fights now followed each other in rapid succession. 
Long impending hostilities burst upon the white settlers, 
who, in turn, sought every opportunity of gratifying their 
revenge for outrages committed. No person was safe; 
death lurked in every place, and there was security to 
none. Acts of fiendish barbarity were of common occur- 
rence; houses burned, the labor of ^^ears gone forever, 
while many of the missing were consumed in the flames 
of their own dwelling, the savages dancing around the 
funeral piles. The Lidians appeared seized with a kind 
of desperation which knew no quarter and asked lor none, 
constantly posting themselves in the most frequented 
highways with the intention of slaying or being slain. 

On the olst of December, the same year, the Lidians 
receiving information that the troops under General Clinch 
were approaching and would cross the Withlacoochee, 
posted themselves at the usual fording places for the pur- 
pose of intercepting them. General Clinch was surprised 
b}' them, as they had greatly the advantage, being among 
the trees, while the troops were in an open space with 
only an old leaky canoe to cross in, under constant fire of 
the enemy : some of them being obliged to swim. The 
soldiers, accustomed to Lidian warfare, never forded twice 
in the same place. Captain Ellis, now a worthy citizen 
of Gainesville, Florida, who commanded a company during 
the Seminole War, being present when the attack was 
made, says: "I was so much afraid the war would be 
over before I had a chance to be in a fight, I was glad 
when I saw the Indians coming, but I got enough fight- 
ing before it was through with." When he saw the sav- 
ages at the commencement of this engagement, not know- 
ing of the massacre, he said: "Boys, the Lidians have 
been killing our men, for they have got on their coats." 

Osceola was tlie prime leader in this first battle of 



Ponce de Leon Land. 145 

Withlacoochee, and, although a whole platoon fired at 
him, he seemed to be bullet proof. From behind the tree 
where he was stationed he brought down his man at every 
fire to the number of forty. He ordered his warriors not 
to run from the pale faces, but to fight. The contest was 
n close one, but General Clinch held his ground. After 
the Indians retreated the troops buried their dead and 
built log fires over their remains to keep the enemy from 
digging them up and scalping them. 

During September, 1H37, Osceola sent in negotiations 
■of peace to General Hernandez through an envoy, accom- 
panied with presents of a bead pipe and a white plume as 
an assurance that the path of the pale face was peaceful 
and safe. General Hernandez, with tlie sanction of General 
Jessup, returned presents and friendly messages request- 
ing the presence of Osceola, with the distinct understand- 
ing that it was for the purpose of making arrangements 
for the emigration of his peo[»le. The messenger returned 
in accordance with his previous contract, reporting that 
Osceola was then on his way to St. Augustine with one 
hundred warriors. Osceola had never heretofore regarded 
the sacredness of a flag of truce as binding, besides, being 
engaged in the abduction of Mieanopy and others, who 
would otherwise have complied with the terms of the 
treaty. General Jessup intended before his arrival to 
have him detained. General Hernandez, who was the 
soul of honor, remonstrated with him, when he re- 
plied : "I am your superior; it is your duty to obey." 
•General Hernandez met them at Fort Peyton, neai" Peli- 
cier creek, about seven miles southwest of St. Augustine. 
From the inquiries of General Hernandez in regard to 
the other chiefs and their locality, Osceola soon compre- 
hended the situation, and when asked for replies to the 
General's questions he said to the interpreter, " I feel 
choked. You must speak for me." The place where 
they were assembled for parley being surrounded by a de- 
tachment of dragoons, they closed in on them, cai)turing 
the whole band without firing a shot. 

This strategy in taking Osceola did not tarnish the 
'laurels of General Jessup in the least; a much great-er 

10b 



146 Ponce de Leon Land. 

blunder was committed in turning him loose after his first 
capture. Those who have condemned him must think of 
the anxiety by day and horrors at night through which 
these poor settlers struggled, while time passed like a be- 
wildering dream of terror ; improvements of all kinds 
languishing with a sickly growth, while the dragon of war 
sowed the seed of discord and desecrated the golden fleece 
of the harvest with a bloody hand. 

When Osceola was first captured he was imprisoned 
in Fort Marion, but was afterward removed to Sullivan's 
Island, where his wife and child accompanied him. He 
was a sad prisoner — never known to laugh during his 
confinement, but often heard to sigh. During his last ill- 
ness he had the best medical attention from Charleston, 
whose skill he refused, believing they intended poisoning 
him. To one of his wives he was very much attached, 
and his spirit passed away while leaning on her bosom. 
He died in l<So8 from an inflammation of the tliroat. 

Osceola had always lived among the Seminoles, and 
regarded their lot as his. The name of his wife was 
Checho-ter, or Morning Dew. She was a Creek, and their 
family consisted of four children. Osceola had two sis- 
ters livinof in the Creek nation. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

The Seminole War Near St. Augustine. 

TRAVELERS who imngine themselves greatly incon- 
venienced and have so much to complain about, for 
more profitable em|)loyment, after riding in the 
pleasantsteam cars from Jacksonville to St, Augustine, will 
ppruse the following, from which thev can form some idea 
of the contrast within fifty years in Flr)rida : 



PoNX'E DK Leon Land. 147 

December, 1840. 

" Notice to Travelers St. Augustine and Pico lata Stage : 

" The subscriber has commenced running a comfortable 
carriage between St. Augustine and Picolata twice a week. 
A military escort will accompany the stage going and re- 
turning. Fare each way, five dollars. The subscriber 
assures those who may patronize this undertaking that his 
horses are strong and sound ; his carriages commodious 
and comfortable, that none but careful and sober drivers 
will be employed; also every attention will be })aid to their 
comfort and convenience. Passengers will be called for 
when the escort is about leaving the city." 

We have selected from the many one of the atrocious 
acts of violence committed by the savages previous to this 
arrangement upon a worthy and respected citizen. Dr. 
Philip Weedman, whose three most estimable daughters 
are still living in St. Augustine. 

"November 2"), 18.39. — Shortly after the mail wagon 
left the city Dr. Philip Weedman, Sr., accompanied by his 
little son, a lad about twelve years of age, both in an open 
wagon, with Mr. Graves on horseback, left for the purpose 
of visiting his former residence, now occupied as a garri- 
son by a part of Captain Mickler's company. On arriving 
at the commencement of Long Swamp, without any pre- 
vious warning, he was fired upon and killed, having re- 
ceived two balls in his breast ; his little son was wounded 
in the head, baring his brain ; also cut with a knife. The 
mutilated youth, with the remains of the dead father, 
were brought in town to-day. The express returned for 
medical aid, causing the Indians to run, as the wagon 
containing the mail was fired into, wounding Captain 
Searle and killing a Polander who was riding horseback." 

"Tuesday, November 26, 1839.— The funeral of Dr. 
Philip Weedman took place to-day, attended by all of 
our citizens, who sympathize deeply with his numerous 
family." 

The Polander, Mr. Possenantzky, was buried the 
same day according to the Hebrew form. The Indians 
continued firing on the covered wagon trains, calling 



148 Ponce de Leon Land. 

them "cloth houses;" their object being to obtain supphes. 
When a proposition was made to have fortified wagons 
hostile Indians were something which could not be 
worked by any rule. They were the exception. 

On Saturday, February 15, 1840, we find a record of 
two mail-carriers having been murdered, one seven and 
the other nine miles distant — G. W. Walton, from South 
Carolina, while on his way to Jacksonville, and Mr. J. 
Garcias, near Live Oak Camp. The letters were undis- 
turbed, although carried some distance. Botli of the 
murdered men were buried in St. Augustine. Afterwards 
the mail was accompanied by an escort of five men. 

"We have tried to hold up some cause, with the 
semblance of a shade, to delude us into the belief that the 
Indians have less activity and enterprise than the white 
men, but facts stand forward in bold relief denying us 
even the poor consolation which such delusions might 
atford us. The lifeless bodies of our brethren speak 
trumpet-tongued in favor of their removal, and the wail 
of hearts blighted by their successes is stronger and more 
piercing than the fictitious surroundings of excited fancies." 

Here is another thrust at the bloodhounds: "These 
distinguished auxiliaries have received more attention 
than their service deserves, while great apprehension fills 
the minds of many for fear they should perchance bite a 
Seminole. We would state as a quietus that a competent 
tooth-drawer will accompany them, entering u|)on his 
dental duties very soon." 

Another shocking murder occurred between Picolata 
and St. Augustine, before the St. Johns Railroad was sur- 
veyed between Tocoi and St. Augustine: 

"May 29th, 1840. — On Friday last a carriage and 
wagon had been obtained to proceed to Picolata, for the 
purpose of bringing some baggage and gentlemen con- 
nected wnth the tlieatrical company of W. C. Forbes, from 
Savannah. Leaving Picolata on Saturday morning, May 
23d, in addition to their own party they were joined by 
Mr. D. G. Vose, of New York, and Mr. Miller, of Bruns- 
wick, who all reached the eleven-mile military post in 
safety. When within seven miles of St. Augustine they 
were fired upon by Indians, severely wounding Vose, 



Ponce dk LkOxV Land. 14!) 

Miller and Wigger, a young German musician. While this 
work of death was going on, a wagon which had left the 
barracks that morning was seen approaching; it con- 
tained three persons besides tlie driver — Mr. Francis 
Medicis, of St. Augustine, Mr. A. Ball and Mr. Beaufort. 
The Indians fired upon them near the six-mile post, when 
Mr. Beaufort and the driver escaped. The mules i-an away 
with the wagon. The firing being heard at the little gar- 
rison of .seven men, the}' turned out, when they saw dis- 
tinctly twent}'' Indians. News having been received in 
town by a lad coming in on one of the horses, a party of 
gentlemen repaired thither; on reaching the ground there 
lay Mr. Ball dead, while further on was the body of Mr. 
Medicis, lying on his side, his hands clenched as if in the 
attitude of supplication, his right shirt sleeve burned with 
powder and covered with blood. Mr. Francis Medicis was 
murdered the 2od oi May, 1840, between the hours of 
eleven and twelve o'clock. The bodies of Messrs. Medicis, 
Ball and Vose were brought in at dusk ; that of Mr. Mil- 
ler about nine o'clock. The bodies of the strangers were 
placed in the council chamber. Mr. Forbes and his com- 
pany passed over the Picolata road on the 22d of May, 
except Messrs. Wigger, German and Thomas A. Line. Mr. 
Wigger was murdered, Thomas A. Line hid himself in a 
swamp, sinking up to his neck and covering his face with 
a bonnet leaf, which he raised, to the great surprise of his 
companions when they were searching for the survivors 
and gathering up the wounded." 

The oldest citizens in St. Augustine now say that 
when Mr, German, vocalist, one of the theatricals, arrived 
in the city, after his escape, his hair was standing perfectly 
erect on his head, and in twenty-four hours turned entirely 
white. As the Indians rifled the baggage- wagon, they car- 
ried off a considerable portion of the stsige dresses and 
other paraphernalia. 

Now we can peruse these tragic events as the visions 
of .sorne wild romancer, or relate them to children as 
nursery tales, partaking enough of the terrible to excite a 
desire for the wonderful. Wearied with waiting, and 
heart-sick of bloody murders, we find the following piece 
of composition written on this solemn occasion : 



150 Ponce DE Leon Land. 

"How long shall the earth drink the blood of our 
women and children, and the soil be dyed with the ebbing 
life of manhood? Could they have looked with us upon 
the mangled corpses of Indian wrath as they were laid 
upon the public highway, or gone to the council room 
and surveyed on its table, where side by side the marble 
forms of four men lay, who a few hours before were look- 
ing to the future as filled with bright enjoyment, they 
would then have whistled their philanthrophy to the 
winds and cried aloud for vengeance. That was a sight 
never to be forgotten. We have seen men killed in battle 
and perish by disease on the ocean, but amid the many 
affecting and unpleasant incidents that have met our gaze 
we have never seen a spectacle like that. Here, in the 
rigidity of death, lay the youthful German, on whom man- 
hood had just dawned, also the compact forms of muscular 
health, with the less vigorous frames of more advanced 
years. A casual glance might mistake it for a mimic 
scene, where art had exhausted lier power in its produc- 
tion. But there was the pallid hue of faces ; there was 
the gash the knife had made in its course to the heart ; 
the cleft fort'liead parted by the tomahawk in its descent 
to the brain, and there the silent drop, dropping of crim- 
son tiuid to the Hoor, while our secretary, with his usual 
imbecility, issues orders to muzzle the bloodhounds. The 
funerals of these unfortunate victims took place on Sun- 
day, attended by a large concourse of people, who ex- 
pressed the keenest indignation at the repetition of such 
a scene so near our city. Wild Cat was the leader of this 
band, as he stopped afterward at the plantation of E. S. 
Jencks, Esq., and told the servants he had committed the 
murder." 

The troupe tilled their engagement at St. Augustine, 
as only a musician had been killed from their number. 
History says: "The sterling comedy of 'The Honey- 
moon ' was performed to a crowded house."' Afterwards 
the following notice appeared : " During the winter 
months we have no doubt that a troupe embodying the 
same amount of talent which the present company possess 
would find it profitable to spend a month with us each 
season." 



Ponce de Leon Land. 161 

Coacoochee, or Wild Cat, was captured with Osceola 
in 1836, and afterward made his escape, or he never would 
have been permitted to commit such a series of appalling 
atrocities as those which we have recorded. Wild Cat fre- 
quently visited the residence of General Hernandez, who 
lived on Charlotte street. He also very much admired 
one of his beautiful daughters, and, like lovers at the 
present day, wanted an excuse for returning; consequently, 
on going away he would leave one of his silver crescents, 
which he wore on his breast as a defense and for orna- 
ment, to be polished, and, when he returned, taking the 
one he left before and leaving another. He delighted to 
stand in front of a large mirror which General Hernan- 
dez had in his parlor and admire his person. He said if 
Miss Kitty Hernandez would be his wife she should never 
work any more, but always ride on a pony wherever she 
went ; that Sukey, his present wife, should wait on her, 
but Miss Kitty would be queen. He frequently made as- 
sertions of his friendship for the family. When on one 
occasion some of them remarked that he would kill them 
as quick as anybody if he should find them in the Indian' 
nation, he replied : " Yes, I would ; for you had better 
die by the hand of a friend than an enemy." 



CHAPTER XXXVL 

Coacoochee and Hadjo's Escape and Recapture. 

THE following is an account of Coacoochee's escape 
and recapture : "In all ages of the world there have 
lived those who laugh at iron bars and defy prison 
doors — among whom we find the Seminole Chief Wild 
Cat, who appeared to be proof against bullets, with a body 
no dungeon could hold. He was very indignant on ac- 
count of his imprisonment, denouncing his persecutors in 
no measured terms. He said the white man had given 



152 Ponce de Leon Land. 

one hand in friendship while in the other he carried a 
snake with which he lied and stung the red man. While- 
in Fort Marion he planned his escape in a most remark- 
able manner. He complained of illness, at the same time 
manifesting signs of indisposition, and made a request 
that he might be permitted to go in search of a curative 
agency. Accompanied by a guard, he was again per- 
mitted to breathe the pure air of his native home, but not 
in freedom. This movement furnished him with an op- 
portunity for reconuoitering and measuring with his eye 
the distance outside the fort from the ventilator in his 
cell. After his return he resorted to the use of his herbs 
and abstained from food, which had the effect of reducing 
his size, which was unnecessary, for he easily got through 
the eight inch bars. He selected a stormy night for the 
undertaking, when the guards would be the least inclined 
to vigilance, and commenced making preparations by 
tearing his blanket into strips to make a rope, which he 
made fast inside his cell, and by w^orking a knife into the 
masonry formed steps. This with the aid of his com- 
panion's shoulders enabled him to reach the ventilator, 
a distance of eighteen feet, through which he escaped by 
taking a swinging leap of thirty feet into the ditch, skinn- 
ing his back and chest effectually. His companion, Ta- 
lums Hadjo, was less fortunate than himself. After a 
desperate effort to get through he lost his hold and fell 
the whole way to the ground. Wildcat thought him 
dead, but his ankle was only sprained, and after enlisting 
the service of a mule grazing in the vicinity he was soon 
far away from bolts and bars which could restrain his 
wild, freeborn movements. 

Wildcat had a twin sister, to whom he was much at- 
tached. He said she visited him after her death in a white 
cloud, and thus relates her appearance : " Her long hair, 
that I had often braided, hung down her back. With 
one hand she gave me a string of white pearls ; in the 
other she held a cup sparkling with pure water, which 
she said came from the fountain of the Great Spirit, and 
if I would drink of it I should return and live forever. As 
I drank she sung the peace-song of the Seminoles, while. 
White Wins:s danced around me. She then took me by 



Ponce de Leon Land. loo 

the hand and said, 'All is peace here.' After this she 
stepped into the cloud again, waved her hand, and was 
gone. The pearls she gave me were stolen after I was 
imprisoned in St. Augustine. During certain times in 
the moon, when I had them, I could commune with the 
spirit of my sister. I may be buried in the earth or sunk 
in the water, but 1 shall go to her and there live. Where 
my sister lives game is abundant, and the white man is 
never seen." 

This chieftain was afterward induced to come in for 
a parley to a depot established on the head waters of Peace 
creek. The following is a description of his appearance 
on that occasion : 

"About midday on March 5, 1841, Wildcat was an- 
nounced as approaching the encampment, preceded by 
friendly Indians, and followed by seven trusty warriors. 
He came within the chain of sentinels boldly and fear- 
lessly, decorated, as were his companions, in the most 
fantastic manner. Part of the wardrobe plundered from 
the theatrical troupe the year previous was wrapped about 
their persons in the most ludicrous and grotesque style. 
The nodding plumes of the haughty Dane, as personated 
in the sock and buskin boasting of his ancestry and re- 
venge, now decorated the brow of the unyielding savage 
whose ferocity had desolated the country by blood, and 
whose ancestors had bequeathed the soil now consecrated 
with their ashes, which he had defended with unswerving 
fidelity. He claimed no rights or inheritance but those 
he was prepared to defend. Modestly by his side walked 
a friend wound up in the simple garb of Horatio, while 
in the rear was Richard III, judging from his royal purple 
and ermine, combined with the hideous visage. Others 
were ornamented with the crimson vest and spangles ac- 
cording to fancy. He entered the tent of Colonel Worth, 
who was prepared to receive him, and shook hands with 
the officers all around, undisturbed in manner or language. 
His speech was modest and fluent. His child, aged twelve 
years, which the troops had captured at Fort Mellon dur- 
ing the fight, now rushed into his arms. Tears seldom 
give utterance to the impulse of an Indian's heart, but 
when he found the innate enemies of his race the protector 



154 Ponce de Leon Land. 

of his child he wept. With accuracy and fecHng he de- 
tailed the occurrences of the past four years. He said the 
whites had dealt unjustly by him. ' I came to them ; they 
deceived me. The land I was upon I loved ; m}^ body is 
made of its sands. The Great Spirit gave me legs to walk 
it, hands to help myself, eyes to see its ponds, rivers, for- 
ests and game : then a head, with which to think. The 
sun, which is warm and bright, brings forth our crops, 
and the moon brings back the spirits of our warriors, our 
fathers, wives and children.' Wildcat admitted the neces- 
sity of his leaving the country, hard as it was. After 
remaining four davs he returned with his child to the 
tribe." 

General Worth commanded the army in Florida at 
this time. He established the headquarters of his com- 
mand in the saddle, only asking his troops to follow where 
he should lead. 

Wildcat had a subtle, cunning disposition, which gave 
the whites much trouble. They had deceived him, and 
his confidence in the pale faces was much shaken, but, 
being induced by General Worth, he was prevailed upon 
to meet in council. The general made a direct appeal to 
his vanity by telling him he had the power to end the 
war if he chose, as they were all tired of fighting. 

Wildcat was finally captured during the month of 
June. His camp was thirty-five miles from Fort Pierce, 
on the Okeechobee Swamp. He abandoned the idea of 
emigration, and his name was a terror to all the white 
settlers. He agreed to leave with the Seminole and Mic- 
cosukie tribes, who elected him their leader. His parting 
address, as he stood upon the deck, was as follows: "I am 
looking at the last pine tree of my native land. I ani 
leaving Florida forever. To part from it is like the sep- 
aration of kindred, but I have thrown away my rifle. I 
have shaken hands with the white man, and to him I look 
for protection." 

Wildcat, after being sent to New Orleans, was brought 
back to Tampa, that he might have a talk with his band, 
which numbered one hundred and sixty, including ne- 
groes. He was too proud to come from the vessel with 
his shackles, but when they were removed he talked freely 



Ponce de Leon Land. 155 

with his people, and wanted all to be sent West without 
•delay. He died on the way to Arkansas, and was buried 
■on the bank of the Mississippi river. War to him was 
•only a source of recreation. 



CHAPTER XXXVn. 
FoKT Marion Taken Possession or by Florida Tkooi'S. 



JANUARY 7, 18(31, Fort Marion was taken possession 
of by Florida troops, by order of the Governor, even 
before the ordinance of secession was past. It had 
been used for an arsenal for years. The stores fell 
into the hands of the insurgents. The fort was used for 
•a rendezvous for recruits most of the time up to its sur- 
render to Commander C. R. P. Rodgers, U. S. N. On the 
11th of March, 1862, he crossed the bar in the Wabash 
with a flag of truce. The city and government property 
was surrendered by the mayor, who informed him that 
the two companies of Florida troops who had garrisoned 
the fort had left the place on the previous evening, leav- 
ing tlie public property in his charge. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 



■Confinement of the Comanche, Kiowa, Arrapaho 
AND Chiricahua Apache Indian Prisoners of 
War in the Fort. 

IN 1875, Fort Marion was used for the confinement of a 
number of Comanche, Kiowa and Arrapaho Indians, 
comprising a number af leading chiefs and head men, 
who had been taken prisoners by the United States troops 
serving on the Western frontier. Captain Pratt, U. S. A., 



156 Ponce de Leon Land. 

had charge of the Indians while they were confined in 
Fort Marion. 

April 13, 1886, seventy-seven Chiricahua Apache Indian 
prisoners of war were sent to Fort Marion for confinement. 
The Chiricahua Apaches are one of the many bands of 
the Apache nation, which at that time numbered about 
47,000 people. This band numbered over five hundred, 
and had the best warriors in the Apache nation. Chi- 
huahua was the head chief of this part of the band, and 
was retained as head chief of all the Indians while they 
remained here. He was a very skillful fighter, and un- 
derstood the whites thoroughly, he having been First Ser- 
geant of a company of Indian scouts for two years. He 
had served his time, and was discharged before he joined 
the hostiles. The Indians had promised to come in and 
surrender at a point near San Barnardina. They came 
in, but the night before the surrender was to take place 
Geronimo got his band drunk and induced them to go on 
the war path again. Chihuahua kept his word and sur- 
rendered with his band. 

During the thirteen months that I had the immedi- 
ate care of these Indians, I found most of them trustwor- 
thy, truthful and honest in every respect. 

With this part of the band was old Nanna, the greatest 
war chief of the Apache nation. He probably has more 
scars on his body than any man in this country. It was 
Nanna that tried to save Victory. He sent a small squad 
with Victory into the mountains, and tried to obliterate 
their trail, thinking that the troops would follow the large 
party, but instead, they found the small trail and followed 
it, attacked the band, killing Victory and a number of 
his braves. 

Nanna was the oldest war chief of the baud. He was 
six feet in height and strongly built, and was always pleas- 
ant while here. He spent hours in teaching the Apache 
language and their dances to my son. Nanna was origi- 
nally a Warm Spring Apache. It was his old band that 
were our scouts against the Modoc Indians. 

Natchez was the head chief of this band. Chihuahua, 
Geronimo, Chatto, Nanna, Loco, Bastuea, Cheve, Mangus 
and Kituna were the other chiefs. Of these, Natchez. 



Ponce de Leon Land. 157 

Geronimo and Mangus and fourteen braves were sent to 
Fort Pickens, Fla. This was tlie part of the band that 
went on the war path again after promising to surrender. 
There were live hundred and five all told, brave, squaws 
and children. There was no interpreter sent with Chi- 
hauhua's band. When the large squad from Arizona was 
sent here there were two interpreters with them, Sam Bo- 
man and Conce})tion. With a few exceptions, the Indians 
behaved very well while in confinement here. On the 
26th of April they were transferred to Mount Vernon, 
Ala. They still remain prisoners of war and have been 
sent to the Indian Territory. 

Captain Pratt, United States Army, was the first to 
attempt the education of Indian prisoners of war. He 
was ably [assisted by Mrs. Mathers. This lady took a 
great interest in the instruction of the Apaches, assisted 
by Mrs. Dr. Caruthers and the Misses Clark. A large 
class was instructed by the Sisters of St. Joseph. All the 
above were very successful in their endeavors to educate 
these prisoners. The following is a part of the names as 
near correct as can be translated in English : Today, 
Cona, Lanzea, Nausen. Cisner, Shunarclay, Chechet, Sta- 
loch, Fritz, Johnnie, Kasochon, Darkei, Toy.ski, Charlie, 
Phil, Kroshega, Spudy, Bender, No Slin, Stun, Conaenato, 
Donshedan, Soz, Goody-Goody, Goso, Joshya, Parlo, So- 
zone, Jim, Nigharzen, Xotar, Wlienoshe, Bezenas, Coupo- 
ral, Siele, Sizzen, Kaleson, Harry, Katar, Kerozona, Bash- 
ozon, Bizha, Josanan, Coyonhe, Chatto, Kashonar, Baha- 
ley, Fatty, Shiltinoo, Bachlom, Natchez, Eeskeney. 

Will give a few words in Apache and English trans- 
lation : 

Lomry, fire; to, water: buckshay, beef; potsesha, 
axe; a, shirt; anate, trowsers; ka, shoes; chess, wood; ow. 
yes; chetta, blanket; tlago, night; dozuda, no good; va 
shindau, do you see; hi-u-den-ya, where are you going, 
no day yet; que do wo ga, what your name; ou-chisty, 
come here; youychey, go; edlo, thread; doque, how 
many; do da, no; bakechee, ink; elshinero, baby or 
child; is congo, to-morrow; pesh, knife; kash bea cay, 
shovel; montocho, orange; nantan, commander; oujue, 
good; noy oustee, rain; nato, tobacco; tinco, matches; 



168 Ponce de Leon Land. 

nad e ste, pipe; basque, brush; bagazuda, broom; queah, 
sick. 

The following is the system of counting by the 
Apaches: One, dath la; two, nock ke; .three, ti; four, te; 
five, ashli ; six, goston ; seven, gostid ; eight, sapee ; nine, 
gost i; ten, gones nan; eleven, thla zotta; twelve, nock 
ke zotta ; thirteen, ti zotta; fourteen, te zotta; fifteen, ashli 
zotta; sixteen, goston zotta; seventeen, goste zotta; 
eighteen, spee zotta, nineteen, gosta zotta; twenty, nat 
teen; twenty-one, nateen thla; twenty-two, nateen nocke; 
twenty-three, nateen ti; twenty-four, nateen te; twenty- 
five, nateen ash li. 

The Apaches do not use the sign language except in 
writing. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 



The Hotels in St. Augustine, Franklin W. Smith 
Designed and Built — The Climate. 

THE Ponce de Leon, Cordova and Alcazar stand with- 
out a peer in any part of the world. The construc- 
tion of the first of these magnificent buildings was 
commenced November 30th, 1885, and finished May 30th, 
1887. Architects, Carrere and Hastings; builders, Mc- 
Guire and McDonald; frescoes and mural decorations, 
Maynard and Hastings; superintendent of concrete con- 
struction, William Kennish; superintendent of architec- 
tural department, J. W. Ingle. The other hotels are the 
San Marco, St. George, Florida, Magnolia, Barcelona, Va- 
lencia, Columbia, Abbey, Ocean View, Lynns, The Pal- 
metto, American and others. The climate of Florida 
s})eaks for itself, of St. Augustine especially. 

In concluding this work the author finds a peculiar 
fascination in the early history of Florida that no other 
part of our country possesses. When we look back to 



Ponce de Leon Land. 



.159 



1512, the date of the discovery of Florida by the galhmt 
cavaUer Ponce de Leon, the explorations of Narvaez and 
DeSoto, the permanent settlement by Mcnendez,the French 
and English colonies, the massacre of the Hugnenots 
by Menendez, the retribution and massacic of Spaniards 
by DeGourgues, the attacks of Sir Francis Drake and 
Captain Davis , on St. Augustine, the siege of Governor 
Moore and Colonel Palmer, the brave Oglethorpe's bom- 
bardment and siege, the attack on the Highlanders at 
Fort Moosa, the defence by the gallant and accomplished 
Monteano, the completion of the fortress, which was one 
hundred and ninety-one years in construction, the Semi- 
nole war, the confinement of Indian prisoners of war in 
the fort, the construction of the most magnificent hotels 
in the world, by Mr. H. M. Flagler, making this one of 
the central points of colonial and modern history in the 
United States. If this book awakens an interest in the 
colonial history of our country the author will be par- 
tially repaid for his ten years work. 
Respectfully, 

GEORGE M. BROWN, 
Ordnance Sergeant, United States Army, 



HETH CANFIELD 



E. L. BARNES 



...•••«i 






S#^ 




»%^\B ^' 







LYON BLOCK 



KINO STREET 



Si Aufiistioe 




( Drawer 13.) 

ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. 



<$><5>^<S>'»<^<3>^ 



CITY AND COUNTRY PROPERTY FOR 
SALE ON THE INSTALLWIENT PLAN 



PROPERTY TAKEN CARE OF ANO 
RENTS COLLECTED, LOANS NECO- 



FOR CASH 



REAL 

bS 1 A I b TAXES PAID FOR NON-RESIDENTS 



Buildiug's of all kinds fini.shed complete 
by Contract or on Commission. 

PLHNS m SPECIFICIITI0N8 PROMPTLY FlIRNlSflED. 



CAPITAL $100,000. 



Helh Canfleld, 

President and Manager. 
Erskine H. Reynolds. 

Secretary and Treasurer. 



Directors 



S Henry > 
Heth Ca 
Geoi-ge ' 
E. H. R( 



Henry Warden, 
'antield. 
Old. 
Reynolds. 



J. H. LYNN & CO., 

Wholesale and Retail Liijiioi' Dealers 



AND IMPORTERS OF 



FINE LIQUOKS AND mm 

Cor. King and Charlotte St., 

SOUTH SIDE OF SLAVE MABKET, 

ST. AUGUSTINE, - - - FLORIDA. 



P. F. CAf^CABfl & CO., 

Manufacturers of 

HAVANA CIGARS 



LEADING BRANDS; 

El Mas Noble, 
La Perla Espanola, 
Flor de P. F. C. y Ca., 
Merciless 



ST, AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, 
lib 



C OHORT 

^ LIN 



Florida 
Central ^ 
Peninsular 



Through the Mountains 
and Valleys of Virginia 
and the Carolinas, 

To ASHEYILLE and the RESOKTS. 

To NEW YOKK and the EA8T via COLUM- 
BIA, S. C. 

To MACON, ATLANTA, CHATTANOOGA, 
CINCINNATI, CHIt AGO, via EVERETT, 
GA., and the NORTHWEST. 

To BIRMINGHAM, HOLLY SPRINGS, MEM- 
PHIS, ST. LOUIS, KANSAS CITY, via 
EVERETT. 

To NEW ORLEANS via BEAUTIFUL MID- 
DLE FLORIDA, and to TEXAS, MEXI- 
CO, CALIFORNIA and PACIFIC COAST. 



Send for best Indexed Township Map of Florida to 

A. 0. MacDonell, G, P. A., 

Jacksonville, Pla. 

jg^|*Hunting and Fishing Resort List. 




ALCAZAR— St. Augustine. 

Jo5. P. Greaves, Manager. 

Open November first to May first. $3.00 and upward per day. 




CORDOVA— St. Augustine. 
Kooms only. Open during February and March. 




ORMOND— Ormond-on-the-Halifax. 
Anderson & Price, Managers. 

Open December to April. $4.00 and upward per day . 




ROYAL POINCIANA-Palm Beach. 
H. W. nerrill, Manager. 

Open January to April. ^5.00 and upward per day 




PALM BEACH INN-WestlPalm Beach. 
Fred. Sterry, rianager. 

Open December to May. $4.00 ami upward per day. 



TIMBEIR . . 


GRAZirsiGi . 


FRUIT AND 


"TRUCKING 



AND8 



ON 
THE 



h 



im GOflST OF FLORIDA 



kFROM 



S ^ ^ 



JACKSONVILLE 



TO 



BI5CAYNE BAY 



BUSINESS ,.... 
RESIDENCE 



L0T8 



FOR SALE AT 



ST. AUGUSTINE, OW-IOND, DAYTO- 
NA, PINEDA, EAU GALLIE, lYBST 
PALM BSACH, FT. LAUDERDALE, 
MIAMI AND OTHER TOWNS. ' 



If you ai^ seeking a home ou the East Coast of Florida, either in 
towjj or country, call on or atldress the undersigned. PRICES AND 
TERMS REASONABLE. 

J. E. INQRAHAM, 

General Af?ont and Land Comm'r Florida East Coast Railway, 

St. Augustine, Blorida. 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 





<& 



PONCE CW?>LEON-St. Augustine. 
Gillis& Hurray, flanagers. 

Open January to Appl. $5.00 and upward per day. 



